IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/insuma/v53y2013i3p601-614.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Robust optimal control for an insurer with reinsurance and investment under Heston’s stochastic volatility model

Author

Listed:
  • Yi, Bo
  • Li, Zhongfei
  • Viens, Frederi G.
  • Zeng, Yan

Abstract

This paper considers a robust optimal reinsurance and investment problem under Heston’s Stochastic Volatility (SV) model for an Ambiguity-Averse Insurer (AAI), who worries about model misspecification and aims to find robust optimal strategies. The surplus process of the insurer is assumed to follow a Brownian motion with drift. The financial market consists of one risk-free asset and one risky asset whose price process satisfies Heston’s SV model. By adopting the stochastic dynamic programming approach, closed-form expressions for the optimal strategies and the corresponding value functions are derived. Furthermore, a verification result and some technical conditions for a well-defined value function are provided. Finally, some of the model’s economic implications are analyzed by using numerical examples and simulations. We find that ignoring model uncertainty leads to significant utility loss for the AAI. Moreover we propose an alternative model and associated investment strategy which can be considered more adequate under certain finance interpretations, and which leads to significant improvements in our numerical example.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi, Bo & Li, Zhongfei & Viens, Frederi G. & Zeng, Yan, 2013. "Robust optimal control for an insurer with reinsurance and investment under Heston’s stochastic volatility model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 601-614.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:insuma:v:53:y:2013:i:3:p:601-614
    DOI: 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2013.08.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167668713001327
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.insmatheco.2013.08.011?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lars Peter Hansen & Thomas J Sargent, 2014. "Robust Control and Model Uncertainty," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: UNCERTAINTY WITHIN ECONOMIC MODELS, chapter 5, pages 145-154, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Browne, S., 1995. "Optimal Investment Policies for a Firm with a Random Risk Process: Exponential Utility and Minimizing the Probability of Ruin," Papers 95-08, Columbia - Graduate School of Business.
    3. George Chacko & Luis M. Viceira, 2005. "Dynamic Consumption and Portfolio Choice with Stochastic Volatility in Incomplete Markets," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 1369-1402.
    4. Zeng, Yan & Li, Zhongfei, 2011. "Optimal time-consistent investment and reinsurance policies for mean-variance insurers," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 145-154, July.
    5. Xiang Lin & Chunhong Zhang & Tak Siu, 2012. "Stochastic differential portfolio games for an insurer in a jump-diffusion risk process," Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR);Nederlands Genootschap voor Besliskunde (NGB), vol. 75(1), pages 83-100, February.
    6. Pagan, Adrian R. & Schwert, G. William, 1990. "Alternative models for conditional stock volatility," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1-2), pages 267-290.
    7. Heston, Steven L, 1993. "A Closed-Form Solution for Options with Stochastic Volatility with Applications to Bond and Currency Options," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 6(2), pages 327-343.
    8. Raman Uppal & Tan Wang, 2003. "Model Misspecification and Underdiversification," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(6), pages 2465-2486, December.
    9. French, Kenneth R. & Schwert, G. William & Stambaugh, Robert F., 1987. "Expected stock returns and volatility," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 3-29, September.
    10. Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan & Lai, Yongzeng, 2012. "Optimal time-consistent investment and reinsurance strategies for insurers under Heston’s SV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 191-203.
    11. Liu, Jun & Pan, Jun, 2003. "Dynamic derivative strategies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 401-430, September.
    12. Sid Browne, 1995. "Optimal Investment Policies for a Firm With a Random Risk Process: Exponential Utility and Minimizing the Probability of Ruin," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 937-958, November.
    13. Zhang, Xin & Siu, Tak Kuen, 2009. "Optimal investment and reinsurance of an insurer with model uncertainty," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 81-88, August.
    14. Maenhout, Pascal J., 2006. "Robust portfolio rules and detection-error probabilities for a mean-reverting risk premium," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 128(1), pages 136-163, May.
    15. Gu, Ailing & Guo, Xianping & Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan, 2012. "Optimal control of excess-of-loss reinsurance and investment for insurers under a CEV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 674-684.
    16. Ha-Young Kim & Frederi Viens, 2012. "Portfolio optimization in discrete time with proportional transaction costs under stochastic volatility," Annals of Finance, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 405-425, May.
    17. Yang, Hailiang & Zhang, Lihong, 2005. "Optimal investment for insurer with jump-diffusion risk process," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 615-634, December.
    18. Jun Liu, 2005. "An Equilibrium Model of Rare-Event Premia and Its Implication for Option Smirks," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 131-164.
    19. Liang, Zhibin & Yuen, Kam Chuen & Guo, Junyi, 2011. "Optimal proportional reinsurance and investment in a stock market with Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 207-215, September.
    20. Pascal J. Maenhout, 2004. "Robust Portfolio Rules and Asset Pricing," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 951-983.
    21. Chen, Shumin & Li, Zhongfei & Li, Kemian, 2010. "Optimal investment-reinsurance policy for an insurance company with VaR constraint," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 144-153, October.
    22. Henderson, Vicky, 2005. "Explicit solutions to an optimal portfolio choice problem with stochastic income," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1237-1266, July.
    23. S. David Promislow & Virginia Young, 2005. "Minimizing the Probability of Ruin When Claims Follow Brownian Motion with Drift," North American Actuarial Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(3), pages 110-128.
    24. Wang, Nan, 2007. "Optimal investment for an insurer with exponential utility preference," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 77-84, January.
    25. Holger Kraft, 2005. "Optimal portfolios and Heston's stochastic volatility model: an explicit solution for power utility," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(3), pages 303-313.
    26. Azcue, Pablo & Muler, Nora, 2009. "Optimal investment strategy to minimize the ruin probability of an insurance company under borrowing constraints," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 26-34, February.
    27. Jun Liu, 2007. "Portfolio Selection in Stochastic Environments," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 20(1), pages 1-39, January.
    28. Bai, Lihua & Guo, Junyi, 2008. "Optimal proportional reinsurance and investment with multiple risky assets and no-shorting constraint," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 968-975, June.
    29. Xu, Weidong & Wu, Chongfeng & Li, Hongyi, 2010. "Robust general equilibrium under stochastic volatility model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 224-231, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Ya Huang & Xiangqun Yang & Jieming Zhou, 2017. "Robust optimal investment and reinsurance problem for a general insurance company under Heston model," Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR);Nederlands Genootschap voor Besliskunde (NGB), vol. 85(2), pages 305-326, April.
    2. Zheng, Xiaoxiao & Zhou, Jieming & Sun, Zhongyang, 2016. "Robust optimal portfolio and proportional reinsurance for an insurer under a CEV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 77-87.
    3. Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan & Lai, Yongzeng, 2012. "Optimal time-consistent investment and reinsurance strategies for insurers under Heston’s SV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 191-203.
    4. Shen, Yang & Zeng, Yan, 2015. "Optimal investment–reinsurance strategy for mean–variance insurers with square-root factor process," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 118-137.
    5. A, Chunxiang & Li, Zhongfei, 2015. "Optimal investment and excess-of-loss reinsurance problem with delay for an insurer under Heston’s SV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 181-196.
    6. Xue, Xiaole & Wei, Pengyu & Weng, Chengguo, 2019. "Derivatives trading for insurers," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 40-53.
    7. Zhao, Hui & Rong, Ximin & Zhao, Yonggan, 2013. "Optimal excess-of-loss reinsurance and investment problem for an insurer with jump–diffusion risk process under the Heston model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 504-514.
    8. Escobar, Marcos & Ferrando, Sebastian & Rubtsov, Alexey, 2018. "Dynamic derivative strategies with stochastic interest rates and model uncertainty," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 49-71.
    9. Zhu, Huainian & Cao, Ming & Zhang, Chengke, 2019. "Time-consistent investment and reinsurance strategies for mean-variance insurers with relative performance concerns under the Heston model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 280-291.
    10. Xu, Lin & Zhang, Liming & Yao, Dingjun, 2017. "Optimal investment and reinsurance for an insurer under Markov-modulated financial market," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 7-19.
    11. Nian Yao & Zhiming Yang, 2017. "Optimal excess-of-loss reinsurance and investment problem for an insurer with default risk under a stochastic volatility model," Papers 1704.08234, arXiv.org.
    12. Peng, Xingchun & Chen, Fenge & Hu, Yijun, 2014. "Optimal investment, consumption and proportional reinsurance under model uncertainty," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 222-234.
    13. Hiroaki Hata & Shuenn-Jyi Sheu & Li-Hsien Sun, 2019. "Expected exponential utility maximization of insurers with a general diffusion factor model : The complete market case," Papers 1903.08957, arXiv.org.
    14. Liu, Bing & Meng, Hui & Zhou, Ming, 2021. "Optimal investment and reinsurance policies for an insurer with ambiguity aversion," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    15. Gu, Ailing & Guo, Xianping & Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan, 2012. "Optimal control of excess-of-loss reinsurance and investment for insurers under a CEV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 674-684.
    16. Gu, Ailing & Viens, Frederi G. & Yi, Bo, 2017. "Optimal reinsurance and investment strategies for insurers with mispricing and model ambiguity," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 235-249.
    17. Zhu, Huiming & Deng, Chao & Yue, Shengjie & Deng, Yingchun, 2015. "Optimal reinsurance and investment problem for an insurer with counterparty risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 242-254.
    18. Escobar, Marcos & Ferrando, Sebastian & Rubtsov, Alexey, 2015. "Robust portfolio choice with derivative trading under stochastic volatility," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 142-157.
    19. He, Yong & Zhou, Xia & Chen, Peimin & Wang, Xiaoyang, 2022. "An analytical solution for the robust investment-reinsurance strategy with general utilities," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. Jiaqi Zhu & Shenghong Li, 2020. "Time-Consistent Investment and Reinsurance Strategies for Mean-Variance Insurers under Stochastic Interest Rate and Stochastic Volatility," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-22, December.

    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:eee:insuma:v:53:y:2013:i:3:p:601-614. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/505554 .

    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.