The non-Gaussian maximum likelihood estimator is frequently used in GARCH models with the intention of capturing heavy-tailed returns. However, unless the parametric likelihood family contains the true likelihood, the estimator is inconsistent due to density misspecification. To correct this bias, we identify an unknown scale parameter _<i>f</i> that is critical to the identification for consistency and propose a three-step quasi-maximum likelihood procedure with non-Gaussian likelihood functions. This novel approach is consistent and asymptotically normal under weak moment conditions. Moreover, it achieves better efficiency than the Gaussian alternative, particularly when the innovation error has heavy tails. We also summarize and compare the values of the scale parameter and the asymptotic efficiency for estimators based on different choices of likelihood functions with an increasing level of heaviness in the

The paper studies estimation of partially linear hazard regression models with varying coefficients for multivariate survival data. A profile pseudopartiallikelihood estimation method is proposed. The estimation of the parameters of the linear part is accomplished via maximization of the profile pseudopartiallikelihood, whereas the varyingcoefficient functions are considered as nuisance parameters that are profiled out of the likelihood. It is shown that the estimators of the parameters are root <i>n</i> consistent and the estimators of the nonparametric coefficient functions achieve optimal convergence rates. Asymptotic normality is obtained for the estimators of the finite parameters and varyingcoefficient functions. Consistent estimators of the asymptotic variances are derived and empirically tested, which facilitate inference for the model. We prove that the varyingcoefficient functions can be estimated as well as if the

We develop a specification test for the transition density of a discretely-sampled continuous-time diffusion process, based on a comparison of a nonparametric estimate of the transition density or distribution function to their corresponding parametric counterparts assumed by the null hypothesis. We provide a direct comparison of the two densities for an arbitrary specification of the null parametric model using three different discrepancy measures between the null and alternative transition density and distribution functions. We establish the asymptotic null distributions of proposed test statistics and compute their power functions. The finite sample properties are critically investigated via simulation studies and are compared with other tests. Our approaches are illustrated by applications to implied volatility data and Treasury bill data.