Basic Stochastic Processes

Stochastic processes is a tool widely used by statisticians and researchers working, for example, in the mathematics of finance. This is an introductory text that has a strong emphasis on exercises, complete with informal hints and fully-worked solutions.

1. Review of Probability.- 1.1 Events and Probability.- 1.2 Random Variables.- 1.3 Conditional Probability and Independence.- 1.4 Solutions.- 2. Conditional Expectation.- 2.1 Conditioning on an Event.- 2.2 Conditioning on a Discrete Random Variable.- 2.3 Conditioning on an Arbitrary Random Variable.- 2.4 Conditioning on a ?-Field.- 2.5 General Properties.- 2.6 Various Exercises on Conditional Expectation.- 2.7 Solutions.- 3. Martingales in Discrete.- 3.1 Sequences of Random Variables.- 3.2 Filtrations.- 3.3 Martingales.- 3.4 Games of Chance.- 3.5 Stopping Times.- 3.6 Optional Stopping Theorem.- 3.7 Solutions.- 4. Martingale Inequalities and Convergence.- 4.1 Doob's Martingale Inequalities.- 4.2 Doob's Martingale Convergence Theorem.- 4.3 Uniform Integrability and L1 Convergence of Martingales.- 4.4 Solutions.- 5. Markov Chains.- 5.1 First Examples and Definitions.- 5.2 Classification of States.- 5.3 Long-Time Behaviour of Markov Chains: General Case.- 5.4 Long-Time Behaviour of MarkovChains with Finite State Space.- 5.5 Solutions.- 6. Stochastic Processes in Continuous Time.- 6.1 General Notions.- 6.2 Poisson Process.- 6.3 Brownian Motion.- 6.4 Solutions.- 7. Itô Stochastic Calculus.- 7.1 Itô Stochastic Integral: Definition.- 7.2 Examples.- 7.3 Properties of the Stochastic Integral.- 7.4 Stochastic Differential and Itô Formula.- 7.5 Stochastic Differential Equations.- 7.6 Solutions.

This book fulfils its aim of providing good and interesting material for advanced undergraduate study.

The Times Higher Education Supplement

This is probably one of the best books to begin learning about the sometimes complex topic of stochastic calculus and stochastic processes from a more mathematical approach. Some literature are often accused of unnecessarily complicating the subject when applied to areas of finance. With this book you are allowed to explore the rigorous side of stochastic calculus, yet maintain a physical insight of what is going on. The authors have concentrated on the most important and useful topics that are encountered in common physical and financial systems

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