Recent tests of exponentiality against IFR alternatives: a survey

Testing of various classes of life distributions has been a subject of investigation for more than four decades. In this study, we restrict ourselves to the problem of testing exponentiality (which essentially means no aging) against positive aging, which is captured by the class of increasing failure rate alternatives. Recent tests are discussed and compared. The empirical size of the tests is obtained by simulation. Power computations, using simulations, are done for each test procedure. These comparisons are done both for small and large sample sizes. Suggestions are made regarding the choice of the test when a particular alternative is suspected.