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# On an integral equation for the free-boundary of stochastic, irreversible investment problems

## Author

Listed:
• Giorgio Ferrari

## Abstract

In this paper, we derive a new handy integral equation for the free-boundary of infinite time horizon, continuous time, stochastic, irreversible investment problems with uncertainty modeled as a one-dimensional, regular diffusion $X$. The new integral equation allows to explicitly find the free-boundary $b(\cdot)$ in some so far unsolved cases, as when the operating profit function is not multiplicatively separable and $X$ is a three-dimensional Bessel process or a CEV process. Our result follows from purely probabilistic arguments. Indeed, we first show that $b(X(t))=l^*(t)$, with $l^*$ the unique optional solution of a representation problem in the spirit of Bank-El Karoui [Ann. Probab. 32 (2004) 1030-1067]; then, thanks to such an identification and the fact that $l^*$ uniquely solves a backward stochastic equation, we find the integral problem for the free-boundary.

## Suggested Citation

• Giorgio Ferrari, 2012. "On an integral equation for the free-boundary of stochastic, irreversible investment problems," Papers 1211.0412, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2015.
• Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1211.0412
as

File URL: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1211.0412

## References listed on IDEAS

as
1. Maria B. Chiarolla & Giorgio Ferrari, 2011. "Identifying the Free Boundary of a Stochastic, Irreversible Investment Problem via the Bank-El Karoui Representation Theorem," Papers 1108.4886, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2013.
2. Jan-Henrik Steg, 2012. "Irreversible investment in oligopoly," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 207-224, April.
3. Anders ûksendal, 2000. "Irreversible investment problems," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 223-250.
4. Maria B. Chiarolla & Giorgio Ferrari & Frank Riedel, 2012. "Generalized Kuhn-Tucker Conditions for N-Firm Stochastic Irreversible Investment under Limited Resources," Papers 1203.3757, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2013.
5. Frank Riedel & Xia Su, 2011. "On irreversible investment," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 607-633, December.
6. Ioannis Karatzas & Fridrik M. Baldursson, 1996. "Irreversible investment and industry equilibrium (*)," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 69-89.
7. S. D. Jacka, 1991. "Optimal Stopping and the American Put," Mathematical Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(2), pages 1-14.
Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

## Citations

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Cited by:

1. Ferrari, Giorgio & Salminen, Paavo, 2016. "Irreversible Investment under Lévy Uncertainty: an Equation for the Optimal Boundary," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 530, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
2. Tiziano De Angelis & Giorgio Ferrari & John Moriarty, 2014. "A Non Convex Singular Stochastic Control Problem and its Related Optimal Stopping Boundaries," Papers 1405.2442, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2014.
3. Aïd, René & Federico, Salvatore & Pham, Huyên & Villeneuve, Bertrand, 2015. "Explicit investment rules with time-to-build and uncertainty," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 240-256.
4. de Angelis, Tiziano & Ferrari, Giorgio, 2014. "A Stochastic Reversible Investment Problem on a Finite-Time Horizon: Free Boundary Analysis," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 477, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
5. Salvatore Federico & Mauro Rosestolato & Elisa Tacconi, 2018. "Irreversible investment with fixed adjustment costs: a stochastic impulse control approach," Papers 1801.04491, arXiv.org.
6. Giorgio Ferrari & Paavo Salminen, 2014. "Irreversible Investment under L\'evy Uncertainty: an Equation for the Optimal Boundary," Papers 1411.2395, arXiv.org.
7. Ferrari, Giorgio, 2016. "Controlling public debt without forgetting Inflation," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 564, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
8. Giorgio Ferrari, 2016. "On the Optimal Management of Public Debt: a Singular Stochastic Control Problem," Papers 1607.04153, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2017.
9. Ferrari, Giorgio & Riedel, Frank & Steg, Jan-Henrik, 2016. "Continuous-Time Public Good Contribution under Uncertainty," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 485, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
10. Chiarolla, Maria B. & Ferrari, Giorgio & Stabile, Gabriele, 2015. "Optimal dynamic procurement policies for a storable commodity with Lévy prices and convex holding costs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(3), pages 847-858.
11. Giorgio Ferrari & Frank Riedel & Jan-Henrik Steg, 2013. "Continuous-Time Public Good Contribution under Uncertainty: A Stochastic Control Approach," Papers 1307.2849, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2015.

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