A combinatorial approach to correlation inequalities Original Research Article

In this paper, we initiate a combinatorial approach to proving correlation inequalities for finite partially ordered sets. A new proof is provided for the strong form of the XYZ theorem, due to Fishburn. We also use our method to give a new proof of a related correlation result of Shepp involving two sets of relations. Our arguments are entirely combinatorial in the sense that they do not make use of the Ahlswede/Daykin theorem or any of its relatives.