The use in statistical theory of approximate arguments based on such methods as local linearization (the delta method) and approxi mate normality has a long history. Such ideas play at least three roles. First they may give simple approximate answers to distributional problems where an exact solution is known in principle but difficult to implement. The second role is to yield higher-order expansions from which the accuracy of simple approximations may be assessed and where necessary improved. Thirdly the systematic development of a theoretical approach to statistical inference that will apply to quite general families of statistical models demands an asymptotic formulation, as far as possible one that will recover 'exact' results where these are available. The approximate arguments are developed by supposing that some defining quantity, often a sample size but more generally an amount of information, becomes large: it must be stressed that this is a technical device for generating approximations whose adequacy always needs assessing, rather than a 'physical' limiting notion. Of the three roles outlined above, the first two are quite close to the traditional roles of asymptotic expansions in applied mathematics and much ofthe very extensive literature on the asymptotic expansion of integrals and of the special functions of mathematical physics is quite directly relevant, although the recasting of these methods into a probability mould is quite often enlightening.

This unique book delivers an encyclopedic treatment of classic as well as contemporary large sample theory, dealing with both statistical problems and probabilistic issues and tools. The book is unique in its detailed coverage of fundamental topics. It is written in an extremely lucid style, with an emphasis on the conceptual discussion of the importance of a problem and the impact and relevance of the theorems. There is no other book in large sample theory that matches this book in coverage, exercises and examples, bibliography, and lucid conceptual discussion of issues and theorems.

"In this second part of Willie Sugg's history of Cambridgeshire cricket the author focuses on the first documented period of sustained success for a Cambridgeshire club - that of the Cambridge Cricket Club." (back cover) Part two of three.

The primary aim of this book is to provide modern statistical techniques and theory for stochastic processes. The stochastic processes mentioned here are not restricted to the usual AR, MA, and ARMA processes. A wide variety of stochastic processes, including non-Gaussian linear processes, long-memory processes, nonlinear processes, non-ergodic processes and diffusion processes are described. The authors discuss estimation and testing theory and many other relevant statistical methods and techniques.

Asymptotic methods provide important tools for approximating and analysing functions that arise in probability and statistics. Moreover, the conclusions of asymptotic analysis often supplement the conclusions obtained by numerical methods. Providing a broad toolkit of analytical methods, Expansions and Asymptotics for Statistics shows how asymptoti

Our book Asymptotic Techniquesfor Use in Statistics was originally planned as an account of asymptotic statistical theory, but by the time we had completed the mathematical preliminaries it seemed best to publish these separately. The present book, although largely self-contained, takes up the original theme and gives a systematic account of some recent developments in asymptotic parametric inference from a likelihood-based perspective. Chapters 1-4 are relatively elementary and provide first a review of key concepts such as likelihood, sufficiency, conditionality, ancillarity, exponential families and transformation models. Then first-order asymptotic theory is set out, followed by a discussion of the need for higher-order theory. This is then developed in some generality in Chapters 5-8. A final chapter deals briefly with some more specialized issues. The discussion emphasizes concepts and techniques rather than precise mathematical verifications with full attention to regularity conditions and, especially in the less technical chapters, draws quite heavily on illustrative examples. Each chapter ends with outline further results and exercises and with bibliographic notes. Many parts of the field discussed in this book are undergoing rapid further development, and in those parts the book therefore in some respects has more the flavour of a progress report than an exposition of a largely completed theory.

These notes are based on lectures presented during the seminar on " Asymptotic Statistics" held at SchloB Reisensburg, Gunzburg, May 29-June 5, 1988. They consist of two parts, the theory of asymptotic expansions in statistics and probabilistic aspects of the asymptotic distribution theory in nonparametric statistics. Our intention is to provide a comprehensive presentation of these two subjects, leading from elementary facts to the advanced theory and recent results. Prospects for further research are also included. We would like to thank all participants for their stimulating discussions and their interest in the subjects, which made lecturing very pleasant. Special thanks are due H. Zimmer for her excellent typing. We would also like to take this opportunity to to express our thanks to the Gesellschaft fur mathematische Forschung and to the Deutsche Mathematiker Vereinigung, especially to Professor G. Fischer, for the opportunity to present these lectures and to the Birkhauser Verlag for the publication of these lecture notes. R. Bhattacharya, M. Denker Part I: Asymptotic Expansions in Statistics Rabi Bhattacharya 11 §1. CRAMER-EDGEWORTH EXPANSIONS Let Q be a probability measure on (IRk, B"), B" denoting the Borel sigmafield on IR". Assume that the s - th absolute moment of Q is finite, (1.1) P. := J II x lis Q(dx)