In this paper we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for a measure or vector that is [mu]-invariant for a q-matrix, Q, to be [mu]-invariant for the family of transition matrices, {P(t)}, of the minimal process it generates. Sufficient conditions are provided in the case when Q is regular...

In this paper we further develop a method, touched upon Pollett (1988), of determining quasistationary distributions for a continuous-time Markov chain directly from the matrix of transition rates, Q. In particular, we establish criteria for determining whether or not a given q-matrix, Q' is a...

The stationary conditional quasi-stationary distribution of the linear birth, death and catastrophe process is shown to exist iff the decrement distribution has a finite second order moment, Conditional limit theorems for the population size are found when this moment is infinite and a regular...

The economic reforms of the past two decades have initiated a major social transition in China, characterized by unprecedented social mobility and stratification. Meanwhile, the privatization of health care has increased costs to the consumer. While such changes would logically affect...