Bayesian variable selection with spherically symmetric priors

Abstract: We propose that Bayesian variable selection for linear parametrisations with Gaussian iid likelihoods be based on the spherical symmetry of the diagonalised parameter space. Our r-prior results in closed forms for the evidence for four examples, including the hyper-g prior and the Zellner-Siow prior, which are shown to be special cases. Scenarios of a single variable dispersion parameter and of fixed dispersion are studied, and asymptotic forms comparable to the traditional information criteria are derived. A simulation exercise shows that model comparison based on our r-prior gives good results comparable to or better than current model comparison schemes.