These notes are based on lectures presented during the seminar on "
Asymptotic Statistics" held at SchloB Reisensburg, Gunzburg, May 29-June
5, 1988. They consist of two parts, the theory of asymptotic expansions
in statistics and probabilistic aspects of the asymptotic distribution
theory in nonparametric statistics. Our intention is to provide a
comprehensive presentation of these two subjects, leading from
elementary facts to the advanced theory and recent results. Prospects
for further research are also included. We would like to thank all
participants for their stimulating discussions and their interest in the
subjects, which made lecturing very pleasant. Special thanks are due H.
Zimmer for her excellent typing. We would also like to take this
opportunity to to express our thanks to the Gesellschaft fur
mathematische Forschung and to the Deutsche Mathematiker Vereinigung,
especially to Professor G. Fischer, for the opportunity to present these
lectures and to the Birkhauser Verlag for the publication of these
lecture notes. R. Bhattacharya, M. Denker Part I: Asymptotic Expansions
in Statistics Rabi Bhattacharya 11 §1. CRAMER-EDGEWORTH EXPANSIONS Let Q
be a probability measure on (IRk, B"), B" denoting the Borel sigmafield
on IR". Assume that the s - th absolute moment of Q is finite, (1.1) P.:
= J II x lis Q(dx)