Developments in Statistics

Development in Statistics, Volume 3 is a collection of papers that deals with asymptotic expansions in parametric statistical theory, orthogonal models for contingency tables, statistical concepts in economic analysis, and an exposition of path analysis. One paper presents an inference model based on a sample of independent identically distributed observations to arrive at a general statistical theory founded on asymptotic methods. Another paper discusses the applicability of statistical concepts to economics and related areas, with emphasis on not-so-obvious applications (known as utility and expected loss). The paper explains information theory concepts for the measurement of income inequality, intergenerational occupational mobility, as well as to first- and second-order moments of univariate and bivariate distributions (such as measurements applied to the cost of living and of real income). One paper notes that the starting point in path analysis is a linear predictor (in the least-squares sense) for one random variable in terms of a number of others. The paper adds that the work of Koopmans and Hood (1953) on econometrics is part of the starting point. Statisticians, economists, mathematicians, students, and professors of calculus or advanced mathematics will surely appreciate the collection.