Browse IFS
Publication types
cemmap Working Papers
May 2007 CWP12/07
Article
On the computational complexity of MCMC-based estimators in large samples
Type: cemmap Working Papers
Authors: Alexandre Belloni and Victor Chernozhukov
ISSN: 1753-9196
Now published in: Annals of Statistics [Details]

In this paper we examine the implications of the statistical large sample theory for the computational complexity of Bayesian and quasi-Bayesian estimation carried out using Metropolis random walks. Our analysis is motivated by the Laplace-Bernstein-Von Mises central limit theorem, which states that in large samples the posterior or quasi-posterior approaches a normal density. Using this observation, we establish polynomial bounds on the computational complexity of general Metropolis random walks methods in large samples. Our analysis covers cases, where the underlying log-likelihood or extremum criterion function is possibly nonconcave, discontinuous, and of increasing dimension. However, the central limit theorem restricts the deviations from continuity and log-concavity of the log-likelihood or extremum criterion function in a very specific manner.

Download full version (PDF 483 KB)

Search

Title (or part of title)
Author surname (or part of surname)