The sum of squared logarithms inequality in arbitrary dimensions

We prove the sum of squared logarithms inequality (SSLI) which states that for nonnegative vectors x, y ∈ ℝⁿ whose elementary symmetric polynomials satisfy e_k(x) ≤ e_k(y) (for 1 ≤ k < n) and e_n(x) = e_n(y) , the inequality ∑_i(log x_i)² ≤ ∑_i(log y_i)² holds. Our proof of this inequality follows by a suitable extension to the complex plane. In particular, we show that the function f : M ⊆ ℂⁿ → ℝ with f(z) = ∑_i(log z_i)² has nonnegative partial derivatives with respect to the elementary symmetric polynomials of z. We conclude by providing applications and wider connections of the SSLI. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)