A Short Note of Comparison between Convex and Non-convex Penalized Likelihood

Abstract

This paper compares convex and non-convex penalized likelihood methods in high-dimensional statistical modeling, focusing on their strengths and limitations. Convex penalties, like LASSO, offer computational efficiency and strong theoretical guarantees but often introduce bias in parameter estimation. Non-convex penalties, such as SCAD and MCP, reduce bias and achieve oracle properties but pose optimization challenges due to non-convexity. The paper highlights key differences in bias-variance trade-offs, computational complexity, and robustness, offering practical guidance for method selection. It concludes that the choice depends on the problem context, balancing accuracy