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How We Tend To Overestimate Powerlaw Tail Exponents

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  • Nassim N. Taleb

Abstract

In the presence of a layer of metaprobabilities (from uncertainty concerning the parameters), the asymptotic tail exponent corresponds to the lowest possible tail exponent regardless of its probability. The problem explains "Black Swan" effects, i.e., why measurements tend to chronically underestimate tail contributions, rather than merely deliver imprecise but unbiased estimates.

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  • Nassim N. Taleb, 2012. "How We Tend To Overestimate Powerlaw Tail Exponents," Papers 1210.1966, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1210.1966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. N. N. Taleb & R. Douady, 2013. "Mathematical definition, mapping, and detection of (anti)fragility," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(11), pages 1677-1689, November.
    2. Rafał Weron, 2001. "Levy-Stable Distributions Revisited: Tail Index> 2does Not Exclude The Levy-Stable Regime," International Journal of Modern Physics C (IJMPC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(02), pages 209-223.
    3. Borak, Szymon & Härdle, Wolfgang Karl & Weron, Rafał, 2005. "Stable distributions," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2005-008, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
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