Nonparametric Copula Density Estimation Methodologies

Source abstract

This paper proposes several methodologies whose objective consists of securing copula density estimates. More specifically, this aim will be achieved by differentiating bivariate least-squares polynomials fitted to Deheuvels’ empirical copulas, by making use of Bernstein’s approximating polynomials of appropriately selected orders; by differentiating linearized distribution functions evaluated at optimally spaced grid points; and by implementing the kernel density estimation technique in conjunction with a repositioning of the pseudo-observations and a certain criterion for determining suitable bandwidths. Smoother representations of such density estimates can further be secured by approximating them by means of moment-based bivariate polynomials. The various copula density estimation techniques being advocated herein are successfully applied to an actual dataset as well as a random sample generated from a known distribution.