Machine Learning Classification Model Comparison

Machine learning models are boosting Artificial Intelligence applications in many domains, such as automotive, finance and health care. This is mainly due to their advantage, in terms of predictive accuracy, with respect to classic statistical models. However, machine learning models are much less explainable: less transparent, less interpretable. This paper proposes to improve machine learning models, by proposing a model selection methodology, based on Lorenz Zonoids, which allows to compare them in terms of predictive accuracy significant gains, leading to a selected model which maintains accuracy while improving explainability. We illustrate our proposal by means of simulated datasets and of a real credit scoring problem. The analysis of the former shows that the proposal improves alternative methods, based on the AUROC. The analysis of the latter shows that the proposal leads to models made up of two/three relevant variables that measure the profitability and the financial leverage of the companies asking for credit.