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

0.1. The aim of the book Our "Contributions to a General Asymptotic Statistical Theory" (Springer Lecture Notes in Statistics, Vol. 13, 1982, called "Vol. I" in the following) suggest to describe the local structure of a general family ~ of probability measures by its tangent space, and the local behavior of a functional K: ~ ~~k by its gradient. Starting from these basic concepts, asymptotic envelope power functions for tests and asymptotic bounds for the concentration of estimators are obtained, and heuristic procedures are suggested for the construction of test- and estimator-sequences attaining these bounds. In the present volume, these asymptotic investigations are carried one step further: From approximations by limit distributions to approximations by Edgeworth expansions, 1 2 adding one term (of order n- / ) to the limit distribution. As in Vol. I, the investigation is "general" in the sense of dealing with arbitrary families of probability measures and arbitrary functionals. The investigation is special in the sense that it is restricted to statistical procedures based on independent, identically distributed observations. 2 Moreover, it is special in the sense that its concern are "regular" models (i.e. families of probability measures and functionals which are subject to certain general conditions, like differentiability). Irregular models are certainly of mathematical interest. Since they are hardly of any practical relevance, it appears justifiable to exclude them at this stage of the investigation.

-Fourier analysis, --

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)

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.

Excellent introductory text, written by two experts, presents a coherent and systematic view of principles and methods. Topics include integration by parts, Watson's lemma, LaPlace's method, stationary phase, and steepest descents. Additional subjects include the Mellin transform method and less elementary aspects of the method of steepest descents. 1975 edition.