Optimal bootstrap sample size in construction of percentile confidence bounds

In traditional bootstrap applications the size of a bootstrap sample equals the parent sample size, n say. Recent studies have shown that using a boot strap sample size different from n may sometimes provide a more satisfactor y solution. In this paper we apply the latter approach to correct for cover age error in construction of bootstrap confidence bounds. We show that the coverage error of a bootstrap percentile method confidence bound, which is of order O(n(-1/2)) typically, can be reduced to O(n(-1)) by use of an opti mal bootstrap sample size. A simulation study is conducted to illustrate ou r findings, which also suggest that the new method yields intervals of shor ter length and greater stability compared to competitors of similar coverag e accuracy.