The risk function approach to profit maximizing estimation in direct mailing

When the parameters of the model describing consumers' reaction to a mailing are known, addresses for a future mailing can be selected in a profit-maximizing way. Usually, these parameters are unknown and are to be estimated. Standard estimation are based on a quadratic loss function. In the present context an alternative loss function is suggested by the mailing company's profit function. This leads to different estimators and higher expected profit.