Parameter Estimation in Credit Models Under Incomplete Information

Alexander Herbertsson, Rüdiger Frey

Publication: Scientific journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

We consider the filtering model of Frey and Schmidt (2012) stated under the real probability measure and develop a method for estimating the parameters in this framework by using time-series data of CDS index spreads and classical maximum-likelihood algorithms. The estimation-approach incorporates the Kushner-Stratonovich SDE for the dynamics of the filtering probabilities. The convenient formula for the survival probability is a prerequisite for our estimation algorithm. We apply the developed maximum-likelihood algorithms on market data for historical CDS index spreads (iTraxx Europe Main Series) in order to estimate the parameters in the nonlinear filtering model for an exchangeable credit portfolio. Several such estimations are performed as well as accompanying statistical and numerical computations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1409 - 1436
JournalCommunications in Statistics. Theory and Methods
Volume43
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2014

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