Empirical processes indexed by estimated functions

Abstract

We consider the convergence of empirical processes indexed by functions that depend on an estimated parameter $\eta$ and give several alternative conditions under which the ``estimated parameter'' $\eta_n$ can be replaced by its natural limit $\eta_0$ uniformly in some other indexing set $\Theta$. In particular we reconsider some examples treated by Ghoudi and Remillard [Asymptotic Methods in Probability and Statistics (1998) 171--197, Fields Inst. Commun. 44 (2004) 381--406]. We recast their examples in terms of empirical process theory, and provide an alternative general view which should be of wide applicability.