IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/compec/v49y2017i1d10.1007_s10614-015-9547-y.html

Pessimistic Optimal Choice for Risk-Averse Agents: The Continuous-Time Limit

Author

Listed:
  • Paolo Vitale

    (University of Pescara, Università Gabriele d’Annunzio)

Abstract

We extend Hansen and Sargent’s (Discounted linear exponential quadratic gaussian control, 1994, IEEE Trans Autom Control 40:968–971 1995, 2013) analysis of dynamic optimization with risk-averse agents in two directions. Firstly, following Whittle (Risk-sensitive optimal control, 1990), we show that the optimal risk-averse policy is identified via a pessimistic choice mechanism and described by simple recursive formulae. Secondly, we investigate the continuous-time limit and show that sufficient conditions for the existence of optimal solutions coincide with those which apply under risk-neutrality. Our analysis is conducted both under perfect and imperfect state observation. As an illustrative example, we analyze the optimal production policy of an entrepreneur running a monopolistic firm which faces a demand schedule subject to stochastic shocks, showing that risk-aversion induces her to act more aggressively.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Vitale, 2017. "Pessimistic Optimal Choice for Risk-Averse Agents: The Continuous-Time Limit," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 49(1), pages 17-65, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:compec:v:49:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10614-015-9547-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10614-015-9547-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10614-015-9547-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10614-015-9547-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vitale, Paolo, 2012. "Risk-averse insider trading in multi-asset sequential auction markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(3), pages 673-675.
    2. van der Ploeg, Frederick, 2009. "Prudent monetary policy and prediction of the output gap," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 217-230, June.
    3. Frederick Ploeg, 2010. "Political economy of prudent budgetary policy," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 17(3), pages 295-314, June.
    4. Lars Peter Hansen & Thomas J Sargent, 2014. "Robust Permanent Income and Pricing," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: UNCERTAINTY WITHIN ECONOMIC MODELS, chapter 3, pages 33-81, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    5. Hong Zhang, 2004. "Dynamic Beta, Time-Varying Risk Premium, and Momentum," Yale School of Management Working Papers amz2637, Yale School of Management, revised 01 Mar 2005.
    6. TallariniJr., Thomas D., 2000. "Risk-sensitive real business cycles," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 507-532, June.
    7. Epstein, Larry G & Zin, Stanley E, 1991. "Substitution, Risk Aversion, and the Temporal Behavior of Consumption and Asset Returns: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(2), pages 263-286, April.
    8. Lars Peter Hansen & Thomas J. Sargent, 2013. "Recursive Models of Dynamic Linear Economies," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 10141, December.
    9. Holden, Craig W. & Subrahmanyam, Avanidhar, 1994. "Risk aversion, imperfect competition, and long-lived information," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(1-2), pages 181-190.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Edilio Valentini & Paolo Vitale, 2022. "A Dynamic Oligopoly with Price Stickiness and Risk-Averse Agents," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 8(3), pages 697-718, November.
    2. Valentini, Edilio & Vitale, Paolo, "undated". "Uncertainty and Risk-aversion in a Dynamic Oligopoly with Sticky Prices," ETA: Economic Theory and Applications 285025, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    3. Edilio Valentini & Paolo Vitale, 2019. "Optimal Climate Policy for a Pessimistic Social Planner," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 72(2), pages 411-443, February.
    4. Vitale, Paolo, 2018. "Optimal monetary policy for a pessimistic central bank," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 39-59.
    5. Vitale, Paolo, 2018. "Robust trading for ambiguity-averse insiders," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 113-130.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vitale, Paolo, 2018. "Optimal monetary policy for a pessimistic central bank," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 39-59.
    2. Paolo Vitale Author-Name-First Paolo, 2013. "Pessimistic optimal choice for risk-averse agents," Working Papers CASMEF 1306, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, LUISS Guido Carli.
    3. Edilio Valentini & Paolo Vitale, 2022. "A Dynamic Oligopoly with Price Stickiness and Risk-Averse Agents," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 8(3), pages 697-718, November.
    4. Lars Peter Hansen & Thomas J Sargent, 2014. "Doubts or Variability?," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: UNCERTAINTY WITHIN ECONOMIC MODELS, chapter 7, pages 217-256, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    5. Nengjiu Ju & Jianjun Miao, 2012. "Ambiguity, Learning, and Asset Returns," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(2), pages 559-591, March.
    6. David K. Backus & Bryan R. Routledge & Stanley E. Zin, 2005. "Exotic Preferences for Macroeconomists," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2004, Volume 19, pages 319-414, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Stanca Lorenzo, 2023. "Recursive preferences, correlation aversion, and the temporal resolution of uncertainty," Working papers 080, Department of Economics, Social Studies, Applied Mathematics and Statistics (Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-Sociali e Matematico-Statistiche), University of Torino.
    8. Luca De Gennaro Aquino & Sascha Desmettre & Yevhen Havrylenko & Mogens Steffensen, 2024. "Equilibrium control theory for Kihlstrom-Mirman preferences in continuous time," Papers 2407.16525, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2024.
    9. Saki Bigio & Eduardo Zilberman, 2020. "Speculation-Driven Business Cycles," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 865, Central Bank of Chile.
    10. Lars Lochstoer & Harjoat S. Bhamra, 2009. "Return Predictability and Labor Market Frictions in a Real Business Cycle Model," 2009 Meeting Papers 1257, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    11. Krueger, Dirk & Ludwig, Alexander & Villalvazo, Sergio, 2021. "Optimal taxes on capital in the OLG model with uninsurable idiosyncratic income risk," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    12. repec:rim:rimwps:19-06 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Okubo, Masakatsu, 2023. "Model uncertainty, economic development, and welfare costs of business cycles," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    14. Scheffel, Eric, 2008. "A Credit-Banking Explanation of the Equity Premium, Term Premium, and Risk-Free Rate Puzzles," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2008/30, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    15. Daniel, Kent & Hirshleifer, David & Teoh, Siew Hong, 2002. "Investor psychology in capital markets: evidence and policy implications," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 139-209, January.
    16. Anastasios Karantounias, 2019. "A dynamic theory of the excess burden of taxation," 2019 Meeting Papers 1356, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    17. AJ A. Bostian & Christoph Heinzel, 2018. "Comparative precautionary saving under higher-order risk and recursive utility," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 43(1), pages 95-114, May.
    18. Vitale, Paolo, 2018. "Robust trading for ambiguity-averse insiders," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 113-130.
    19. Tim W. Cogley & Thomas J. Sargent, 2005. "The Market Price of Risk and the Equity Premium," Working Papers 522, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
    20. Gadi Barlevy, 2004. "The Cost of Business Cycles Under Endogenous Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(4), pages 964-990, September.
    21. , G., 2013. "Managing pessimistic expectations and fiscal policy," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 8(1), January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:compec:v:49:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10614-015-9547-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.