Stein’s density method for multivariate continuous distributions

Abstract

This paper provides a general framework for Stein’s density method for multivariate continuous distributions. The approach associates to any probability density function a canonical operator and Stein class, as well as an infinite collection of operators and classes which we call standardizations. These in turn spawn an entire family of Stein identities and characterizations for any continuous distribution on Rd, among which we highlight those based on the score function and the Stein kernel. A feature of these operators is that they do not depend on normalizing constants. A new definition of Stein kernel is introduced and examined; integral formulas are obtained through a connection with mass transport, as well as ready-to-use explicit formulas for elliptical distributions. The flexibility of the kernels is used to compare in Stein discrepancy (and therefore 2-Wasserstein distance) between two normal distributions, Student and normal distributions, as well as two normal-gamma distributions. Upper and lower bounds on the 1-Wasserstein distance between continuous distributions are provided, and computed for a variety of examples: comparison between different normal distributions (improving on existing bounds in some regimes), posterior distributions with different priors in a Bayesian setting (including logistic regression), centred Azzalini–Dalla Valle distributions. Finally the notion of weak Stein equation and weak Stein factors is introduced. Bounds for solutions of the weak Stein equation are obtained for Lipschitz test functions if the distribution admits a Poincaré constant. We use these bounds to compare different copulas on the unit square in 1-Wasserstein distance.