Comparison of normal random number generators

In: Wiadomości statystyczne / Glówny Urza̜d Statystyczny, Polskie Towarzystwo Statystyczne: czasopismo Głównego Urze̜du Statystycznego i Polskiego Towarzystwa = ˜Theœ Polish statistician, Band 64, Heft 7, S. 5-31

Abstract

The sampling in statistical surveys and numerical calculations as well as simulation testing of probabilistic models in virtually all fields of knowledge require a com-puter endowed with pseudorandom numbers generators. The main goal of the study is to compare the normal random number generators using various criteria. The properties of 12 random number generators for a normal distribution were investigated. Then, the family of generators was extended by two so-called application generators and a new approach for checking the quality of generators was adopted. A ready-made tool pre-pared in C++ and in Visual Basic for Application (VBA) for conducting self-contained research using generators was presented. All Monte Carlo simulations were carried out in C++, while the calculations were performed in the VBA editor using the Microsoft Excel 2016 spreadsheet. The analysis of the obtained results shows that the generators with best properties are: MP Monty Python, R, Biegun and Ziggurat. The worst generators, are: BM Box-Muller, Wallace, Iloraz and Excel.