Poisson and normal approximations for the measurable functions of independent random variables

Abstract

In this paper we use a Malliavin-Stein type method to investigate Poisson and normal approximations for the measurable functions of infinitely many independent random variables. We combine Stein's method with the difference operators in theory of concentration inequalities to obtain explicit bounds on Wasserstein, Kolmogorov and total variation distances. When restricted to the functions of a finite number of independent random variables, our method provides new bounds in the normal approximation. Meanwhile, our bounds in Poisson approximation are first to obtain explicitly.