Abstract

In this paper we propose a new Monte Carlo EM algorithm to compute maximum likelihood estimates in the context of random effects models. The algorithm involves the construction of efficient sampling distributions for the Monte Carlo implementation of the E-step, together with a reweighting procedure that allows repeatedly using a same sample of random effects. In addition, we explore the use of stochastic approximations to speed up convergence once stability has been reached. Our algorithm is compared with that of . Extensions to more general problems are discussed.