SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, Vol.50, No.2, 629-651, 2012
OPTIMAL SWITCHING WITH CONSTRAINTS AND UTILITY MAXIMIZATION OF AN INDIVISIBLE MARKET
This work focuses on optimal switching with constraints. Our motivation stems from utility maximization of an indivisible market. The dynamic programming approach is used; the value function is characterized as the unique viscosity solution of a quasi-variational inequality. The unbounded domain introduces new challenges. By studying the sample paths of the diffusion at the boundary, a sufficient condition for the continuity of the value function is provided, yielding the desired characterization. Not only are the results of this work applicable to the utility maximization problem, but also they can be used for general optimal switching problems with finite regimes.
Keywords:utility optimization;indivisible market;dynamic programming;transaction cost;continuity of value function;quasi-variational inequality