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Time Series & Bayesian Regression

From Theory to Application: Bayesian Ridge Regression in Action

Sofien Kaabar, CFA
5 min readOct 29, 2024

Bayesian ridge regression stands as a powerful and versatile technique. It is a Bayesian approach to linear regression that offers a unique perspective on modeling and prediction. This approach combines the best of both worlds: the regularization properties of ridge regression and the probabilistic framework of Bayesian inference.

Bayesian Ridge Regression

Before delving into Bayesian ridge regression, let’s first understand the foundation upon which it builds. Ridge regression is a linear regression technique designed to tackle the issue of multicollinearity in predictive modeling. When predictors (features) in a dataset are highly correlated, traditional linear regression models can become unstable and yield unreliable coefficient estimates.

Ridge regression addresses this by introducing a regularization term to the linear regression objective function. This regularization term, often referred to as the L2 penalty, encourages the model to distribute the weights (coefficients) of the predictors more evenly, effectively reducing the impact of multicollinearity.

What sets Bayesian ridge regression apart is its incorporation of Bayesian statistics. Bayesian methods treat model parameters as random variables, allowing for the modeling of uncertainty. In the context of linear regression, this means that instead of producing point estimates for coefficients, Bayesian ridge regression provides probability distributions over the possible values of these coefficients.

The key advantage of machine learning for time series predictions lies in its adaptability and scalability. These models can learn from large datasets, automatically detect patterns and trends, and adapt to changing conditions, making them invaluable for real-world applications. As businesses and researchers increasingly seek accurate forecasts and insights from their time series data, machine learning continues to play a central role in shaping the future of time series analysis and prediction.

Implementation in Python

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Sofien Kaabar, CFA
Sofien Kaabar, CFA

Written by Sofien Kaabar, CFA

Top writer in Finance, Investing, Business | Trader & Author | Bookstore: https://sofienkaabar.myshopify.com/

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