Testing Composite Hypotheses for Locally Stationary Processes

For a class of locally stationary processes introduced by Dahlhaus, this paper discusses the problem of testing composite hypotheses. First, for the Gaussian likelihood ratio test (GLR), Wald test (W) and Lagrange multiplier test (LM), we derive the limiting distribution under a composite hypothesis in parametric form. It is shown that the distribution of GLR, W and LM tends to a K^2 distribution under the hypothesis. We also evaluate their local powers under a sequence of local alternatives, and discuss their asymptotic optimality. The results can be applied to testing for stationarity. Some examples are given. They illuminate the local power property via simulation. On the other hand, we provide a nonparametric LAN theorem. Based on this result, we obtain the limiting distribution of the GLR under both null and alternative hypotheses described in nonparametric form. Finally, the numerical studies are given. Copyright 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.