Coherent random permutations with biased record statistics

Abstract

We consider random permutations that are defined coherently for all values of n, and for each n have a probability distribution which is conditionally uniform given the set of upper and lower record values. Our central example is a two-parameter family of random permutations that are conditionally uniform given the counts of upper and lower records. This family may be seen as an interpolation between two versions of Ewens’ distribution. We discuss characterisations of the conditionally uniform permutations, their asymptotic properties, constructions and relations to random compositions.