New decision-theoretic characterization separates belief and decision posteriors.
problem Understanding the conditions under which loss-based updating coincides with Bayesian updating.
method Decision-theoretic approach to distinguish belief and decision posteriors.
result Generalized Bayes coincides with ordinary Bayesian updating only if the loss is proportional to negative log-likelihood.
New PG losses improve decision optimization in misspecified models.
problem Improving decision optimization in models that are not perfectly specified.
method Introducing Perturbation Gradient (PG) losses to connect decision loss with directional derivatives and optimizing using gradient techniques.
result PG losses yield best-in-class policies asymptotically, even in misspecified settings.
Study explores loss design for decision trees to improve robustness against noisy labels.
problem Improving decision tree robustness to noisy labels.
method Investigated loss correction and symmetric losses, found ineffective.
result Other loss design directions need exploration for robust decision trees.
Novel loss functions improve decision tree learning from noisy data.
problem Training decision trees with noisy labels.
method Introducing distribution losses and a new negative exponential loss.
result The negative exponential loss leads to efficient and robust decision tree learning.
Decision trees improve decision-making by optimizing predictions of unknown parameters.
problem Optimizing decisions based on predicted unknown parameters.
method SPO Trees (SPOTs) for training decision trees under the SPO loss function.
result SPOTs provide higher quality decisions and significantly lower model complexity compared to other machine learning approaches.
The paper explores how different loss functions impact reinforcement learning algorithms.
problem Improving reinforcement learning algorithms by optimizing loss functions.
method Comprehensive survey on loss functions in reinforcement learning, proving the benefits of specific loss functions.
result Binary cross-entropy loss leads to first-order bounds and is more efficient than squared loss.
New decision-theoretic calibration error metric improves prediction reliability.
problem Improving the reliability of predictions for decision-making.
method Proposed Calibration Decision Loss (CDL) and an efficient algorithm to achieve near-optimal CDL.
result Near-optimal CDL guarantees vanishing payoff loss from miscalibration.
The paper optimizes forecasting for risk-adjusted decisions under trading frictions.
problem Optimizing forecasting accuracy for investment decisions in the presence of transaction costs.
method Develops a utility-weighted calibration criterion to minimize decision loss net of costs.
result Utility-weighted calibration reduces decision loss by over 30% and improves Sharpe ratio.
We consider the problem of learning a forest of nonlinear decision rules with general loss functions. The standard methods employ boosted decision trees such as Adaboost for exponential loss and Friedman's gradient boosting for general loss. In contrast to these traditional boosting algorithms that treat a tree learner…
Loss-calibrated EP improves Bayesian decision-making by focusing on utility-sensitive posterior approximations.
problem Bayesian decision-making under asymmetric utility functions.
method Loss-calibrated expectation propagation (Loss-EP) that tilts the posterior towards higher utility decisions.
result Loss-EP can capture useful information for decision-making under asymmetric penalties.
Improves generative models for cost-sensitive decisions.
problem Generative models lack awareness of decision costs.
method Integrates a decision loss into the training objective.
result Improves cost-sensitive forecast accuracy.
New method improves decision-making accuracy without complex calculations.
problem Improving decision-making accuracy in machine learning.
method Introducing a new measure called calibration decision loss ( C D L K \mathsf{CDL}_K CDL K ) for structured families of post-processing functions. result Proves upper and lower bounds for natural classes K K K of post-processing functions. New algorithms achieve decision calibration without sample complexity dependent on feature dimension.
problem Achieving decision calibration for nonlinear loss functions with polynomial sample complexity.
method Developed smooth relaxation of decision calibration, enabling dimension-free algorithms.
result Efficient algorithms post-process predictors to satisfy decision calibration without worsening accuracy.
The paper corrects Bayesian neural network approximations to improve decision quality.
problem Inaccurate posterior approximations in Bayesian neural networks lead to suboptimal decisions.
method Develops methods to calibrate approximate posterior predictive distributions for better decision making.
result Empirically produces higher quality decisions compared to previous methods.
This paper establishes the asymptotic consistency of the {\it loss-calibrated variational Bayes} (LCVB) method. LCVB was proposed in~\cite{LaSiGh2011} as a method for approximately computing Bayesian posteriors in a `loss aware' manner. This methodology is also highly relevant in general data-driven decision-making con…
Bayesian neural networks are shown to be minimax and admissible under certain conditions.
problem Optimality of Bayesian neural networks in deep learning models.
method Analysis of decision rules induced by BNNs in the normal location model under quadratic loss.
result A hyperprior on the effective output variance yields a minimax and admissible decision rule.
Paper presents a Bayesian-decision-theory framework for long-tailed classification.
problem Heavy imbalance and asymmetric misprediction costs in long-tailed datasets.
method Bayesian-decision-theory perspective, unifying re-balancing and ensemble methods.
result Improves accuracy for all classes, especially tails, with provably optimal decisions.
A novel gradient-based method optimizes decision trees for complex tasks.
problem Training decision trees with arbitrary differentiable loss functions.
method Gradient-based optimization using first and second derivatives of loss functions.
result Improves accuracy and flexibility in decision tree optimization.
Enhances Transformers for better risk assessment in finance.
problem Transformer models lack sensitivity to extreme financial losses.
method Integrates Loss-at-Risk function with Value at Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR).
result Improves risk prediction and management in financial datasets.
Paper improves privacy-preserving measurement of advertising incrementality.
problem Privacy degradation in randomized lift tests for advertising measurement.
method Formulates a robust causal decision problem under signal losses, projecting clean worlds onto incrementality.
result Sharp decision frontier shows valid certification or rejection outside the frontier.
Study uses property elicitation to understand how fairness regularizers affect optimal decisions.
problem Understanding how fairness regularizers change the optimal decision in predictive algorithms.
method Property elicitation to analyze the relationship between loss, regularization, and optimal decision.
result Necessary and sufficient condition for when a property changes with the addition of a regularizer.
We consider the problem of online combinatorial optimization under semi-bandit feedback, where a learner has to repeatedly pick actions from a combinatorial decision set in order to minimize the total losses associated with its decisions. After making each decision, the learner observes the losses associated with its a…
FairNN learns fair representations and decisions by optimizing a multi-objective loss function.
problem Fairness in machine learning models for decision-making.
method Joint feature representation and classification with multi-objective loss function.
result Joint approach outperforms separate treatment of fairness in representation learning or supervised learning.
Boosted decision trees typically yield good accuracy, precision, and ROC area. However, because the outputs from boosting are not well calibrated posterior probabilities, boosting yields poor squared error and cross-entropy. We empirically demonstrate why AdaBoost predicts distorted probabilities and examine three cali…
Bayesian framework for policy learning in decision problems.
problem Maximizing expected welfare in decision-making problems.
method Loss-based Bayesian updating and squared-loss surrogate for welfare maximization.
result General Bayes posterior over decision rules with Gaussian pseudo-likelihood interpretation.
Post-processing predictors reduces calibration errors for decision-making.
problem Predictors with low calibration error for machine learning may have high error for decision-making.
method Post-processing with ε distance to calibration adds noise to make predictions differentially private.
result Post-processing achieves O(√ε) ECE and CDL, asymptotically optimal.
In this paper we study a class of insurance products where the policy holder has the option to insure k k k of its annual Operational Risk losses in a horizon of T T T years. This involves a choice of k k k out of T T T years in which to apply the insurance policy coverage by making claims against losses in the given year. The…
Optimal decision-making using prediction sets to minimize risk.
problem Using prediction sets optimally for decision-making in uncertain scenarios.
method Decision-theoretic framework that seeks to minimize expected loss against a worst-case distribution.
result ROCP algorithm reduces critical mistakes compared to baselines, especially in costly out-of-set errors.
New approach optimizes decisions based on uncertainty in predictions.
problem Mismatch between prediction accuracy and decision loss in sequential design.
method Directional uncertainty-guided approach to sequential experimental design.
result Directional uncertainty-based design stops earlier and performs better.
The paper examines how loss aversion impacts multi-armed bandit decisions over long periods.
problem The impact of loss aversion on multi-armed bandit decisions over long periods.
method A new central limit theorem for measures with history-dependent variances, derived under risk aversion in gains and risk loving in losses.
result Consequences of loss aversion for asymptotic properties are derived in analytical results.
We address the problem of aggregating an ensemble of predictors with known loss bounds in a semi-supervised binary classification setting, to minimize prediction loss incurred on the unlabeled data. We find the minimax optimal predictions for a very general class of loss functions including all convex and many non-conv…
Agents prefer non-diversification in markets with extreme losses.
problem Optimal risk allocation and equilibria in markets with extremely heavy-tailed losses.
method Analysis of super-Pareto loss distributions and stochastic dominance.
result Non-diversification is preferred in markets with super-Pareto losses.
Proposes a method for inference in high-dimensional classification with non-differentiable surrogate losses.
problem Lack of inference procedures for identifying driving factors in high-dimensional classification with non-differentiable surrogate losses.
method Kernel-smoothed decorrelated score and cross-fitted version for hypothesis tests and interval estimators.
result Valid and superior inference methods for high-dimensional classification with non-differentiable surrogate losses.
Paper proposes consistent estimators for learning to defer decisions to experts.
problem Learning algorithms often ignore expert decision-making in practical scenarios.
method Reduction to cost sensitive learning, novel surrogate loss for consistent estimation.
result Effective approach demonstrated on various tasks, showing consistency.
Paper proposes a probabilistic method to handle missing data in decision trees.
problem Handling missing data in decision trees.
method At deployment time, use density estimators to compute expected predictions. At learning time, fine-tune tree parameters to minimize expected prediction loss.
result Effective compared to baselines in experiments.
New framework captures long-term decision dependence in online learning.
problem Long-term dependence on past decisions in online learning.
method Introduces Online Convex Optimization with Unbounded Memory (OCO-UMB) and p p p -effective memory capacity. result Proves O ( H p T ) O(\sqrt{H_p T}) O ( H p T ) upper bound on policy regret and matching lower bound. The paper tackles optimal policy learning with asymmetric counterfactual utilities in healthcare decisions.
problem Learning optimal policies from observed data with asymmetric counterfactual utilities.
method The approach involves identifying and minimizing the maximum expected utility loss using statistical decision theory and solving intermediate classification problems.
result One can learn minimax loss decision rules from observed data.
We enhance conformal prediction for risk-averse decisions with action-conditional guarantees.
problem Uncertainty quantification and safety guarantees for machine learning decisions.
method Action-conditional conformal prediction, pinball-loss minimization.
result Action-conditional prediction sets optimize risk-averse decision-making.
Efficient algorithms for online convex optimization with limited switching decisions.
problem Online convex optimization with limited switching decisions.
method Presented computationally efficient algorithms for both general and strongly convex losses.
result Regret bounds of O ( T / S ) O(T/S) O ( T / S ) for general convex losses and O ~ ( T / S 2 ) \widetilde O(T/S^2) O ( T / S 2 ) for strongly convex losses. Algorithm for online decision making with unknown dynamics and aggregate feedback.
problem Online decision making with unknown dynamics and aggregate bandit feedback.
method Developed an algorithm based on online mirror descent with a self-concordant barrier regularization and an increasing learning rate schedule.
result Achieved O ( K ) O(\sqrt{K}) O ( K ) regret for the online Markov Decision Process with K K K episodes. In classification, the de facto method for aggregating individual losses is the average loss. When the actual metric of interest is 0-1 loss, it is common to minimize the average surrogate loss for some well-behaved (e.g. convex) surrogate. Recently, several other aggregate losses such as the maximal loss and average t…
A new autoregressive SPO method improves decision-making for dependent data.
problem Improving decision-making for dependent data in stochastic optimization.
method An autoregressive Smart Predict-then-Optimize (SPO) method for time series data.
result Generalization bounds and uniform calibration results for the SPO loss in autoregressive models.
The study quantifies decision-making risks from suboptimal classifiers and proposes methods to reduce these risks.
problem Excess risk in decision-making from suboptimal probabilistic classifiers.
method Analytical expressions and upper/lower bounds for excess risk, calibration curve estimation, grouping loss estimator.
result Identifies regimes where recalibration alone or post-training is more effective.
Paper introduces a new G ⋆ G^\star G ⋆ regret measure for online convex optimization with smooth losses.
problem Online convex optimization with smooth losses.
method Introduces a new G ⋆ G^\star G ⋆ regret measure that depends on the cumulative squared gradient norm. result The G ⋆ G^\star G ⋆ regret can be arbitrarily sharper than existing measures when losses have vanishing curvature. This paper improves risk bounds and calibration for smart predict-then-optimize method.
problem Improving risk bounds and calibration for smart predict-then-optimize method.
method Develops risk bounds and uniform calibration results for the SPO+ loss relative to the SPO loss.
result Empirical minimizer of the SPO+ loss achieves low excess true risk with high probability.
Study optimal investment decisions for diverse risk-tolerant agents.
problem Optimizing investment choices for agents with varying risk preferences.
method Characterizes optimal behavior using certainty equivalents and lognormal risks.
result Derives optimal decision menus under known and uncertain preference distributions.
Study improves trading decisions by predicting profit and loss outcomes.
problem Inconsistent profitability of machine learning forecasts in financial markets.
method Developed a novel algorithm for forecasting profit and loss outcomes, integrating with market trend predictions.
result Significantly improved performance of trading strategies, including traditional and algorithmic trading.
New learning process for neural classifiers simplifies decision weights.
problem Training decision layer weights in neural classifiers.
method Choosing appropriate loss functions and solving constrained optimization problems.
result A new learning process for pre-decision weights that is simple and effective.