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Risk-averse dynamic pricing using mean-semivariance optimization

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  • Schlosser, Rainer
  • Gönsch, Jochen

Abstract

In many revenue management applications risk-averse decision-making is crucial. In dynamic settings, however, it is challenging to find the right balance between maximizing expected rewards and avoiding poor performances. In this paper, we consider time-consistent mean-semivariance (MSV) optimization for dynamic pricing problems within a discrete MDP framework, which are shown to be NP hard. We present a novel fixpoint-based dynamic programming approach to compute risk-sensitive feedback policies with Pareto-optimal combinations of mean and semivariance. We illustrate the effectiveness and the applicability of our concepts compared to state-of-the-art heuristics. For various numerical examples the results show that our approach clearly outperforms all other heuristics and obtains a performance guarantee with less then 0.2% optimality gap. Our approach is general and can be applied to MDPs beyond dynamic pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Schlosser, Rainer & Gönsch, Jochen, 2023. "Risk-averse dynamic pricing using mean-semivariance optimization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 310(3), pages 1151-1163.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:310:y:2023:i:3:p:1151-1163
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2023.04.002
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