Quasi-concave density estimation

Abstract

Maximum likelihood estimation of a log-concave probability density is formulated as a convex optimization problem and shown to have an equivalent dual formulation as a constrained maximum Shannon entropy problem. Closely related maximum Renyi entropy estimators that impose weaker concavity restrictions on the fitted density are also considered, notably a minimum Hellinger discrepancy estimator that constrains the reciprocal of the square-root of the density to be concave. A limiting form of these estimators constrains solutions to the class of quasi-concave densities.