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On Maximin Optimization Problems & the Rate of Discount: a Simple Dynamic Programming Argument

Author

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  • Jean-Pierre Drugeon

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Thai Ha-Huy

    (EPEE - Centre d'Etudes des Politiques Economiques - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne)

  • Thi-Do-Hanh Nguyen

    (VMU - Vietnam Maritime University [Hai Phon])

Abstract

This article establishes a dynamic programming argument for a maximin optimization problem where the agent completes a minimization over a set of discount rates. Even though the consideration of a maximin criterion results in a program that is not convex and not stationary over time, it is proved that a careful reference to extended dynamic programming principles and a maxmin functional equation however allows for circumventing these difficulties and recovering an optimal sequence that is time consistent. This in its turn brings about a stationary dynamic programming argument.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Pierre Drugeon & Thai Ha-Huy & Thi-Do-Hanh Nguyen, 2018. "On Maximin Optimization Problems & the Rate of Discount: a Simple Dynamic Programming Argument," PSE Working Papers halshs-01761997, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-01761997
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01761997v2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tapan Mitra & Kazuo Nishimura, 2012. "Intertemporal Complementarity and Optimality: A Study of a Two-Dimensional Dynamical System," Springer Books, in: John Stachurski & Alain Venditti & Makoto Yano (ed.), Nonlinear Dynamics in Equilibrium Models, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 195-233, Springer.
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    Keywords

    Maximin principle; Non-convexities; Value fun-ion; Policy fun-ion; Supermodularity;
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