Bounds for Sums of Random Variables When the Marginals and the Variance of the Sum are Given

Scandinavian Actuarial Journal, Forthcoming

18 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2009 Last revised: 3 Nov 2010

See all articles by Ka Chun Cheung

Ka Chun Cheung

The University of Hong Kong

Steven Vanduffel

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Date Written: August 31, 2009

Abstract

In this paper we establish several relations between convex order, variance order, and comonotonicity.

In the first part, we extend Cheung (2008b) to show that when the marginal distributions are fixed, a sum with maximal variance is in fact a comonotonic sum. Thus the convex upper bound is achieved if and only if the marginal variables are comonotonic.

Next, we study the situation where besides the marginal distributions, the variance of the sum is also fixed. Intuitively one expects that adding this information may lead to a bound that is sharper than the comonotonic upper bound. However, we show that such upper bound does not even exist. Nevertheless, we can still identify a special dependence structure known as upper comonotonicity, in which case the sum behaves like a convex largest sum in the upper tail.

Finally, we investigate when the convex order is equivalent to the weaker variance order. Throughout this paper, interpretations and significance of the results in terms of portfolio risks will be emphasized.

Keywords: comonotonicity, copula, dependence, solvency, Basel II, Solvency II, Value-at-Risk, Tail Value-at-Risk

Suggested Citation

Cheung, Ka Chun and Vanduffel, Steven, Bounds for Sums of Random Variables When the Marginals and the Variance of the Sum are Given (August 31, 2009). Scandinavian Actuarial Journal, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1368637

Ka Chun Cheung

The University of Hong Kong ( email )

Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong, Pokfulam HK
China

Steven Vanduffel (Contact Author)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) ( email )

Pleinlaan 2
Brussels, Brabant 1050
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.stevenvanduffel.com

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