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Interpreting discrete loss VaR and expected shortfall

The default outputs distinguish threshold 10, selected-tail average 30 and whole-model mean 2.

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Begin with the declared example

Default losses −10/0/10/50 use one loss unit and common horizon, with probabilities 30/40/25/5 percent. Confidence is 90%. These inputs are hypothetical and are not market-data estimates.

Interpret the labeled quantities

Default interpretation
OutputResultQuestion answered
Lower VaR10 loss unitsFirst cumulative crossing at 90%
Expected shortfall30 loss unitsAverage of worst 10% mass
Strictly above VaR5%Probability of L > 10
At or above VaR30%Probability of L ≥ 10
Mean loss2 loss unitsAverage over the entire model

Open the allocation table

At loss 50 all 5% probability is included. At loss 10 only 5% of its available 25% is included. The included masses sum to 10%. The chart’s tail bars are inclusion portions of the same model, not an additional independent probability distribution.

Make a controlled comparison

Changing confidence holds the model fixed; changing an outcome changes its severity; changing probabilities changes the distribution. Retain separate records so a result change can be connected to the input that caused it.

Further references