The generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) is probably the most popular model for inference on the tail of a distribution. The peaks-over-threshold methodology postulates the GPD as the natural model for excesses over a high threshold. However, for the GPD to fit such excesses well, the threshold should often be rather large, thereby restricting the model to only a small upper fraction of the data. In case of heavy-tailed distributions, we propose an extension of the GPD with a single parameter, motivated by a second-order refinement of the underlying Pareto-type model. Not only can the extended model be fitted to a larger fraction of the data, but in addition is the resulting maximum likelihood for the tail index asymptotically unbiased. In practice, sample paths of the new tail index estimator as a function of the chosen threshold exhibit much larger regions of stability around the true value. We apply the method to daily log-returns of the euro-UK pound exchange rate. Some simulation results are presented as well.

JOOSSENS Elisabeth;  BEIRLANT Jan;  SEGERS Johan; 

2006-02-16

JRC30839

EUR 21881 EN,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC30839,