Log-location-scale-log-concave distributions for survival and reliability analysis

Abstract

We consider a novel sub-class of log-location-scale models for survival and reliability data formed by restricting the density of the underlying location-scale distribution to be log-concave. These models display a number of attractive properties. We particularly explore the shapes of the hazard functions of these, LLSLC, models. A relatively elegant, if partial, theory of hazard shape arises under a further minor constraint on the hazard function of the underlying log-concave distribution. Perhaps the most useful LLSLC models are contained in a class of three-parameter distributions which allow constant, increasing, decreasing, bathtub and upsidedown bathtub shapes for their hazard functions.