On the Relative-Frequency Interpretation of Finite Maximum-Entropy Distributions

T E Smith
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T E Smith: Regional Science Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA

Environment and Planning A, 1975, vol. 7, issue 3, 325-347

Abstract: This paper critically reexamines the Jaynes interpretation of finite maximum-entropy distributions as limits of the ‘most likely’ relative-frequency distributions consistent with any given prior information. It is shown that while this interpretation is valid in a number of cases, it fails to hold for many types of prior information. Given this limitation, a weaker form of the Jaynes interpretation is proposed which is shown to hold for a wider class of prior information.

Date: 1975
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:7:y:1975:i:3:p:325-347

DOI: 10.1068/a070325

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