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Existing theory for multivariate extreme values focuses upon characterizations of the distributional tails when all components of a random vector, standardized to identical margins, grow at the same rate. In this paper, we consider the effect of allowing the components to grow at different rates, and characterize the link between these marginal growth rates and the multivariate tail probability decay rate. Our approach leads to a whole class of univariate regular variation conditions, in place of the single but multivariate regular variation conditions that underpin the current theories. These conditions are indexed by a homogeneous function and an angular dependence function, which, for asymptotically independent random vectors, mirror the role played by the exponent measure and Pickands' dependence function in classical multivariate extremes. We additionally offer an inferential approach to joint survivor probability estimation. The key feature of our methodology is that extreme set probabilities can be estimated by extrapolating upon rays emanating from the origin when the margins of the variables are exponential. This offers an appreciable improvement over existing techniques where extrapolation in exponential margins is upon lines parallel to the diagonal.

Stochastic volatility processes with heavy-tailed innovations are a well-known model for financial time series. In these models, the extremes of the log returns are mainly driven by the extremes of the i.i.d. innovation sequence which leads to a very strong form of asymptotic independence, that is, the coefficient of tail dependence is equal to 1/2 for all positive lags. We propose an alternative class of stochastic volatility models with heavy-tailed volatilities and examine their extreme value behavior. In particular, it is shown that, while lagged extreme observations are typically asymptotically independent, their coefficient of tail dependence can take on any value between 1/2 (corresponding to exact independence) and 1 (related to asymptotic dependence). Hence, this class allows for a much more flexible extremal dependence between consecutive observations than classical SV models and can thus describe the observed clustering of financial returns more realistically. The extremal dependence structure of lagged observations is analyzed in the framework of regular variation on the cone (0, ∞)d. As two auxiliary results which are of interest on their own we derive a new Breiman-type theorem about regular variation on (0, ∞)d for products of a random matrix and a regularly varying random vector and a statement about the joint extremal behavior of products of i.i.d. regularly varying random variables.

Models based on assumptions of multivariate regular variation and hidden regular variation provide ways to describe a broad range of extremal dependence structures when marginal distributions are heavy tailed. Multivariate regular variation provides a rich description of extremal dependence in the case of asymptotic dependence, but fails to distinguish between exact independence and asymptotic independence. Hidden regular variation addresses this problem by requiring components of the random vector to be simultaneously large but on a smaller scale than the scale for the marginal distributions. In doing so, hidden regular variation typically restricts attention to that part of the probability space where all variables are simultaneously large. However, since under asymptotic independence the largest values do not occur in the same observation, the region where variables are simultaneously large may not be of primary interest. A different philosophy was offered in the paper of Heffernan and Tawn [J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B Stat. Methodol. 66 (2004) 497-546] which allows examination of distributional tails other than the joint tail. This approach used an asymptotic argument which conditions on one component of the random vector and finds the limiting conditional distribution of the remaining components as the conditioning variable becomes large. In this paper, we provide a thorough mathematical examination of the limiting arguments building on the orientation of Heffernan and Tawn [J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B Stat. Methodol. 66 (2004) 497-546]. We examine the conditions required for the assumptions made by the conditioning approach to hold, and highlight simililarities and differences between the new and established methods.

A fundamental issue in applied multivariate extreme value analysis is modelling dependence within joint tail regions. The primary focus of this work is to extend the classical pseudopolar treatment of multivariate extremes to develop an asymptotically motivated representation of extremal dependence that also encompasses asymptotic independence. Starting with the usual mild bivariate regular variation assumptions that underpin the coefficient of tail dependence as a measure of extremal dependence, our main result is a characterization of the limiting structure of the joint survivor function in terms of an essentially arbitrary non-negative measure that must satisfy some mild constraints. We then construct parametric models from this new class and study in detail one example that accommodates asymptotic dependence, asymptotic independence and asymmetry within a straightforward parsimonious parameterization. We provide a fast simulation algorithm for this example and detail likelihood-based inference including tests for asymptotic dependence and symmetry which are useful for submodel selection. We illustrate this model by application to both simulated and real data. In contrast with the classical multivariate extreme value approach, which concentrates on the limiting distribution of normalized componentwise maxima, our framework focuses directly on the structure of the limiting joint survivor function and provides significant extensions of both the theoretical and the practical tools that are available for joint tail modelling.

In the classical setting of bivariate extreme value theory, the procedures for estimating the probability of an extreme event are not applicable if the componentwise maxima of the observations are asymptotically independent. To cope with this problem, Ledford and Tawn proposed a submodel in which the penultimate dependence is characterized by an additional parameter. We discuss the asymptotic properties of two estimators for this parameter in an extended model. Moreover, we develop an estimator for the probability of an extreme event that works in the case of asymptotic independence as well as in the case of asymptotic dependence, and prove its consistency.

We introduce and study a class of weighted functional estimators for the coefficient of tail dependence in bivariate extreme value statistics. Asymptotic normality of these estimators is established under a second-order condition on the joint tail behaviour, some conditions on the weight function and for appropriately chosen sequences of intermediate order statistics. Asymptotically unbiased estimators are constructed by judiciously chosen linear combinations of weighted functional estimators, and variance optimality within this class of asymptotically unbiased estimators is discussed. The finite sample performance of some specific examples from our class of estimators and some alternatives from the recent literature are evaluated with a small simulation experiment.

The analysis of extreme values within a stationary time series entails various assumptions concerning its long- and short-range dependence. We present a range of new diagnostic tools for assessing whether these assumptions are appropriate and for identifying structure within extreme events. These tools are based on tail characteristics of joint survivor functions but can be implemented by using existing estimation methods for extremes of univariate independent and identically distributed variables. Our diagnostic aids are illustrated through theoretical examples, simulation studies and by application to rainfall and exchange rate data. On the basis of these diagnostics we can explain characteristics that are found in the observed extreme events of these series and also gain insight into the properties of events that are more extreme than those observed.

Standard approaches for modelling dependence within joint tail regions are based on extreme value methods which assume max-stability, a particular form of joint tail dependence. We develop joint tail models based on a broader class of dependence structure which provides a natural link between max-stable models and weaker forms of dependence including independence and negative association. This approach overcomes many of the problems that are encountered with standard methods and is the basis for a Poisson process representation that generalizes existing bivariate results. We apply the new techniques to simulated and environmental data, and demonstrate the marked advantage that the new approach offers for joint tail extrapolation.

We propose a multivariate extreme value threshold model for joint tail estimation which overcomes the problems encountered with existing techniques when the variables are near independence. We examine inference under the model and develop tests for independence of extremes of the marginal variables, both when the thresholds are fixed, and when they increase with the sample size. Motivated by results obtained from this model, we give a new and widely applicable characterisation of dependence in the joint tail which includes existing models as special cases. A new parameter which governs the form of dependence is of fundamental importance to this characterisation. By estimating this parameter, we develop a diagnostic test which assesses the applicability of bivariate extreme value joint tail models. The methods are demonstrated through simulation and by analysing two previously published data sets.

Random vectors on the positive orthant whose distributions possess hidden regular variation are a subclass of those whose distributions are multivariate regularly varying. The concept is an elaboration of the coefficient of tail dependence of Ledford and Tawn (1996, 1997). We provide characterizations and examples of such distribution in terms of mixture models and product models. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]