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If we know that the two random sequences $\{X_n\}$ and $\{Y_n\}$ $$ X_n \stackrel{d}{\longrightarrow} N(0,\sigma_1^2)\\ Y_n \stackrel{d}{\longrightarrow} N(0,\sigma_2^2) $$ and $\mathrm{cov}(X_n,Y_n) \to 0$, can we conclude that the joint random vectors $$ \pmatrix{X_n \\ Y_n} \stackrel{d}{\longrightarrow} N(0,\mathrm{diag}\{\sigma_1^2, \sigma_2^2\}) $$

Is there any counterexample or proof? I have considered using the characteristic function with expansion but did not work it out....

Many thanks to any help!

1 Answers1

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The answer is no. Here is the counter-example.

First, construct $(X,Y)$ such that $X$ and $Y$ follows the normal distribution with zero covariance but $(X,Y)$ is not jointed normal distribution. Suppose $$X \sim \mathcal{N}(0,\sigma_1^2)$$ $$Y = \frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}\cdot X\cdot B$$ where $B$ is independent to $X$ and with the law $\mathbb{P}(B = -1) =\mathbb{P}(B = 1) = \frac{1}{2}$.

Then, $Y$ follows the normal distribution $ \mathcal{N}(0,\sigma_2^2)$, indeed it suffices to compute the characteristic function of $Y$: $$\begin{align} \mathbb{E}\left(e^{itY}\right)&= \mathbb{E}\left(e^{it\frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}\cdot X\cdot B}\right)\\ &= \mathbb{E}\left(\mathbb{E}\left(e^{it\frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}\cdot X\cdot B}|B\right)\right)\\ &= \mathbb{E}\left(e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma_1^2\left(t\cdot \frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}B\right)^2}\right)\\ &= \mathbb{E}\left(e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma_2^2t^2B^2}\right)\\ &= \mathbb{E}\left(e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma_2^2t^2}\right)\\ \end{align}$$ which is exactly the characteristic function of $ \mathcal{N}(0,\sigma_2^2)$. Then, $Y \sim \mathcal{N}(0,\sigma_2^2)$.

It's easy to prove that $$Cov(X,Y) = \mathbb{E}(XY) = \frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}\mathbb{E}(X^2B) = \frac{\sigma_2}{\sigma_1}\mathbb{E}(X^2)\underbrace{\mathbb{E}(B)}_{=0} = 0$$

However, as $X+ \frac{\sigma_1}{\sigma_2} Y = X(B+1)$ does not follow the normal distribution (as $\mathbb{P}(X(B+1)=0) =\frac{1}{2}$), $(X,Y)$ is not then joint normal distribution.

Now, return back to your question, it suffices to denote

$$X_n = X$$ $$Y_n = Y$$

and you have the counter-example.

NN2
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