Let $T_n$ be an $M$-estimator with defining function $\psi$ and preliminary estimate of scale $s_n$. Without loss of generality, let $s_n \rightarrow 1$ and take $E\psi(X/\xi) = 0$. Under various conditions, it is shown that any consistent version of $T_n$ is almost surely to order $O(n^{-1} \log_2 n)$ a linear combination of $n^{-1} \sum^n_1 \psi(X_i)$ and $s_n$. Only in the case $EX_1\psi'(X_1) = 0$ does the contribution of $S_n$ vanish; it is shown how this affects the estimation of the asymptotic variance of $T_n$.
@article{1176344126,
author = {Carroll, Raymond J.},
title = {On Almost Sure Expansions for $M$-Estimates},
journal = {Ann. Statist.},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
year = {1978},
pages = { 314-318},
language = {en},
url = {http://dml.mathdoc.fr/item/1176344126}
}
Carroll, Raymond J. On Almost Sure Expansions for $M$-Estimates. Ann. Statist., Tome 6 (1978) no. 1, pp. 314-318. http://gdmltest.u-ga.fr/item/1176344126/