Exploring different subtypes of recurrent event Cox-regression models in modelling lifetime default risk: A tutorial

Arno Botha, Tanja Verster and Bernard Scheepers

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Abstract: In the pursuit of modelling a loan's probability of default (PD) over its lifetime, repeat default events are often ignored when using Cox Proportional Hazard (PH) models. Excluding such events may produce biased and inaccurate PD-estimates, which can compromise financial buffers against future losses. Accordingly, we investigate a few subtypes of Cox-models that can incorporate recurrent default events. We explore both the Andersen-Gill (AG) and the Prentice-Williams-Peterson (PWP) spell-time models using real-world data as an illustration. These models are compared against a baseline that deliberately ignores recurrent events, called the time to first default (TFD) model. Our models are evaluated using Harrell's c-statistic, adjusted Cox-Sell residuals, and a novel extension of time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis. From these Cox-models, we demonstrate how to derive a portfolio-level term-structure of default risk, which is a series of marginal PD-estimates over the average loan's lifetime. While the TFD- and PWP-models do not differ significantly across all diagnostics, the AG-model underperformed expectations. We believe that our pedagogical tutorial, as accompanied by a codebase, would be of great value to practitioner and regulator alike. Accordingly, our work enhances the current practice of using Cox-modelling in producing timeous and accurate PD-estimates under IFRS 9.

Date: 2025-05, Revised 2026-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-rmg
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