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A Proximal/Gradient Approach for Computing the Nash Equilibrium in Controllable Markov Games

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  • Julio B. Clempner

    (National Polytechnic Institute)

Abstract

This paper proposes a new algorithm for computing the Nash equilibrium based on an iterative approach of both the proximal and the gradient method for homogeneous, finite, ergodic and controllable Markov chains. We conceptualize the problem as a poly-linear programming problem. Then, we regularize the poly-linear functional employing a regularization approach over the Lagrange functional for ensuring the method to converge to some of the Nash equilibria of the game. This paper presents two main contributions: The first theoretical result is the proposed iterative approach, which employs both the proximal and the gradient method for computing the Nash equilibria in Markov games. The method transforms the game theory problem in a system of equations, in which each equation itself is an independent optimization problem for which the necessary condition of a minimum is computed employing a nonlinear programming solver. The iterated approach provides a quick rate of convergence to the Nash equilibrium point. The second computational contribution focuses on the analysis of the convergence of the proposed method and computes the rate of convergence of the step-size parameter. These results are interesting within the context of computational and algorithmic game theory. A numerical example illustrates the proposed approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Julio B. Clempner, 2021. "A Proximal/Gradient Approach for Computing the Nash Equilibrium in Controllable Markov Games," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 847-862, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joptap:v:188:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s10957-021-01812-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10957-021-01812-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Axel Dreves & Christian Kanzow & Oliver Stein, 2012. "Nonsmooth optimization reformulations of player convex generalized Nash equilibrium problems," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 587-614, August.
    2. Julio B. Clempner, 2015. "Setting Cournot Versus Lyapunov Games Stability Conditions and Equilibrium Point Properties," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(04), pages 1-10.
    3. Koichi Nabetani & Paul Tseng & Masao Fukushima, 2011. "Parametrized variational inequality approaches to generalized Nash equilibrium problems with shared constraints," Computational Optimization and Applications, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 423-452, April.
    4. Julio B. Clempner, 2018. "Computing multiobjective Markov chains handled by the extraproximal method," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 271(2), pages 469-486, December.
    5. Julio B. CLEMPNER & Alexander S. POZNYAK, 2016. "Analyzing An Optimistic Attitude For The Leader Firm In Duopoly Models: A Strong Stackelberg Equilibrium Based On A Lyapunov Game Theory Approach," ECONOMIC COMPUTATION AND ECONOMIC CYBERNETICS STUDIES AND RESEARCH, Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics, vol. 50(4), pages 41-60.
    6. Steven Gabriel & Sauleh Siddiqui & Antonio Conejo & Carlos Ruiz, 2013. "Solving Discretely-Constrained Nash–Cournot Games with an Application to Power Markets," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 307-326, September.
    7. Julio B. Clempner & Alexander S. Poznyak, 2020. "Finding the Strong Nash Equilibrium: Computation, Existence and Characterization for Markov Games," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 186(3), pages 1029-1052, September.
    8. Clempner, Julio B. & Poznyak, Alexander S., 2015. "Computing the strong Nash equilibrium for Markov chains games," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 265(C), pages 911-927.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julio B. Clempner, 2023. "A Dynamic Mechanism Design for Controllable and Ergodic Markov Games," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 61(3), pages 1151-1171, March.

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