The probability smoothing problem: Characterizations of the Laplace method

Toyotaka Sakai

Mathematical Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 135, issue C

Abstract: We formulate an axiomatic model to analyze the problem of probability smoothing in Naïve Bayes. We define several desirable properties of smoothing methods. Our main result shows that the Laplace smoothing method is the only one that satisfies ratio preservation, order preservation, and positivity. An alternative characterization based on reallocation-proofness is also obtained.

Keywords: Laplace smoothing; Zero frequency problem; Proportional rule; Claims problem; Machine learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:matsoc:v:135:y:2025:i:c:s0165489625000241

DOI: 10.1016/j.mathsocsci.2025.102409

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