Penalized Likelihood Approach for the Four-parameter Kappa Distribution

TL;DR

This paper introduces a penalized likelihood method for estimating the four-parameter kappa distribution, improving small sample performance while maintaining large sample efficiency, with validation through simulations and real data application.

Contribution

It proposes a novel maximum penalized likelihood estimation approach for K4D, enhancing estimation accuracy in small samples compared to traditional methods.

Findings

MPLE improves small sample estimation accuracy.

Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of penalty combinations.

Application to temperature data demonstrates practical utility.

Abstract

The four-parameter kappa distribution (K4D) is a generalized form of some commonly used distributions such as generalized logistic, generalized Pareto, generalized Gumbel, and generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions. Owing to its flexibility, the K4D is widely applied in modeling in several fields such as hydrology and climatic change. For the estimation of the four parameters, the maximum likelihood approach and the method of L-moments are usually employed. The L-moment estimator (LME) method works well for some parameter spaces, with up to a moderate sample size, but it is sometimes not feasible in terms of computing the appropriate estimates. Meanwhile, the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is optimal for large samples and applicable to a very wide range of situations, including non-stationary data. However, using the MLE of K4D with small sample sizes shows substantially poor performance in terms of a large variance of the estimator. We therefore propose a maximum penalized likelihood estimation (MPLE) of K4D by adjusting the existing penalty functions that restrict the parameter space. Eighteen combinations of penalties for two shape parameters are considered and compared. The MPLE retains modeling flexibility and large sample optimality while also improving on small sample properties. The properties of the proposed estimator are verified through a Monte Carlo simulation, and an application case is demonstrated taking Thailand's annual maximum temperature data. Based on this study, we suggest using combinations of penalty functions in general.