IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/insuma/v53y2013i3p851-863.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Markowitz’s mean–variance defined contribution pension fund management under inflation: A continuous-time model

Author

Listed:
  • Yao, Haixiang
  • Yang, Zhou
  • Chen, Ping

Abstract

In defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, the financial risk borne by the member occurs during the accumulation phase. To build up sufficient funds for retirement, scheme members invest their wealth in a portfolio of assets. This paper considers an optimal investment problem of a scheme member facing stochastic inflation under the Markowitz mean–variance criterion. Besides, we consider a more general market with multiple assets that can all be risky. By applying the Lagrange method and stochastic dynamic programming techniques, we derive the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation, which can be converted into six correlated but relatively simple partial differential equations (PDEs). The explicit solutions for these six PDEs are derived by using the homogenization approach and the variable transformation technique. Then the closed-form expressions for the optimal strategy and the efficient frontier can be obtained through the Lagrange dual theory. In addition, we illustrate the results by some numerical examples.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao, Haixiang & Yang, Zhou & Chen, Ping, 2013. "Markowitz’s mean–variance defined contribution pension fund management under inflation: A continuous-time model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 851-863.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:insuma:v:53:y:2013:i:3:p:851-863
    DOI: 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2013.10.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016766871300156X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.insmatheco.2013.10.002?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. Haberman, Steven & Vigna, Elena, 2002. "Optimal investment strategies and risk measures in defined contribution pension schemes," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 35-69, August.
    2. Deelstra, Griselda & Grasselli, Martino & Koehl, Pierre-Francois, 2003. "Optimal investment strategies in the presence of a minimum guarantee," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 189-207, August.
    3. Harry Markowitz, 1952. "Portfolio Selection," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 7(1), pages 77-91, March.
    4. Deelstra, Griselda & Grasselli, Martino & Koehl, Pierre-Francois, 2004. "Optimal design of the guarantee for defined contribution funds," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 2239-2260, October.
    5. Marina Di Giacinto & Salvatore Federico & Fausto Gozzi, 2011. "Pension funds with a minimum guarantee: a stochastic control approach," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 297-342, June.
    6. Duan Li & Wan‐Lung Ng, 2000. "Optimal Dynamic Portfolio Selection: Multiperiod Mean‐Variance Formulation," Mathematical Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(3), pages 387-406, July.
    7. Marina Di Giacinto & Elena Vigna, 2012. "On the sub-optimality cost of immediate annuitization in DC pension funds," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 20(3), pages 497-527, September.
    8. Cairns, Andrew J.G. & Blake, David & Dowd, Kevin, 2006. "Stochastic lifestyling: Optimal dynamic asset allocation for defined contribution pension plans," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 843-877, May.
    9. Gao, Jianwei, 2009. "Optimal portfolios for DC pension plans under a CEV model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 479-490, June.
    10. Russell Gerrard & Bjarne Højgaard & Elena Vigna, 2012. "Choosing the optimal annuitization time post-retirement," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(7), pages 1143-1159, September.
    11. Han, Nan-wei & Hung, Mao-wei, 2012. "Optimal asset allocation for DC pension plans under inflation," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 172-181.
    12. Ma, Qing-Ping, 2011. "On "optimal pension management in a stochastic framework" with exponential utility," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 61-69, July.
    13. Xiao, Jianwu & Hong, Zhai & Qin, Chenglin, 2007. "The constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model and the Legendre transform-dual solution for annuity contracts," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 302-310, March.
    14. Chen, Ping & Yang, Hailiang & Yin, George, 2008. "Markowitz's mean-variance asset-liability management with regime switching: A continuous-time model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 456-465, December.
    15. Yao, Haixiang & Zeng, Yan & Chen, Shumin, 2013. "Multi-period mean–variance asset–liability management with uncontrolled cash flow and uncertain time-horizon," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 492-500.
    16. Josa-Fombellida, Ricardo & Rincon-Zapatero, Juan Pablo, 2008. "Mean-variance portfolio and contribution selection in stochastic pension funding," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(1), pages 120-137, May.
    17. Aihua Zhang & Christian-Oliver Ewald, 2010. "Optimal investment for a pension fund under inflation risk," Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR);Nederlands Genootschap voor Besliskunde (NGB), vol. 71(2), pages 353-369, April.
    18. Delong, Lukasz & Gerrard, Russell & Haberman, Steven, 2008. "Mean-variance optimization problems for an accumulation phase in a defined benefit plan," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 107-118, February.
    19. Yao, Haixiang & Lai, Yongzeng & Li, Yong, 2013. "Continuous-time mean–variance asset–liability management with endogenous liabilities," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 6-17.
    20. 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.
    21. Blake, David & Wright, Douglas & Zhang, Yumeng, 2013. "Target-driven investing: Optimal investment strategies in defined contribution pension plans under loss aversion," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 195-209.
    22. Chiu, Mei Choi & Li, Duan, 2006. "Asset and liability management under a continuous-time mean-variance optimization framework," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 330-355, December.
    23. Vigna, Elena & Haberman, Steven, 2001. "Optimal investment strategy for defined contribution pension schemes," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 233-262, April.
    24. Markus Leippold & Fabio Trojani & Paolo Vanini, 2011. "Multiperiod mean-variance efficient portfolios with endogenous liabilities," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(10), pages 1535-1546.
    25. Gao, Jianwei, 2010. "An extended CEV model and the Legendre transform-dual-asymptotic solutions for annuity contracts," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 511-530, June.
    26. Griselda Deelstra & Martino Grasselli & Pierre-François Koehl, 2004. "Optimal design of the guarantee for defined contribution funds," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/7602, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    27. Michael J. Brennan & Yihong Xia, 2002. "Dynamic Asset Allocation under Inflation," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 57(3), pages 1201-1238, June.
    28. Ockendon, John & Howison, Sam & Lacey, Andrew & Movchan, Alexander, 2003. "Applied Partial Differential Equations," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198527718.
    29. Griselda Deelstra & Martino Grasselli & Pierre-François Koehl, 2003. "Optimal investment strategies in the presence of a minimum guarantee," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/7598, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    30. Gerrard, Russell & Haberman, Steven & Vigna, Elena, 2004. "Optimal investment choices post-retirement in a defined contribution pension scheme," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 321-342, October.
    31. Steven Haberman & Elena Vigna, 2002. "Optimal investment strategies and risk measures in defined contribution pension schemes," ICER Working Papers - Applied Mathematics Series 09-2002, ICER - International Centre for Economic Research.
    32. Munk, Claus & Sorensen, Carsten & Nygaard Vinther, Tina, 2004. "Dynamic asset allocation under mean-reverting returns, stochastic interest rates, and inflation uncertainty: Are popular recommendations consistent with rational behavior?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 141-166.
    33. Emms, Paul, 2012. "Lifetime investment and consumption using a defined-contribution pension scheme," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 1303-1321.
    34. Boulier, Jean-Francois & Huang, ShaoJuan & Taillard, Gregory, 2001. "Optimal management under stochastic interest rates: the case of a protected defined contribution pension fund," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 173-189, April.
    35. Battocchio, Paolo & Menoncin, Francesco, 2004. "Optimal pension management in a stochastic framework," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 79-95, February.
    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. Guan, Guohui & Liang, Zongxia, 2015. "Mean–variance efficiency of DC pension plan under stochastic interest rate and mean-reverting returns," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 99-109.
    2. Wujun Lv & Linlin Tian & Xiaoyi Zhang, 2023. "Optimal Defined Contribution Pension Management with Jump Diffusions and Common Shock Dependence," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Chen, Damiaan H.J. & Beetsma, Roel M.W.J. & van Wijnbergen, Sweder J.G., 2023. "Intergenerational sharing of unhedgeable inflation risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 140-160.
    4. Dong, Yinghui & Zheng, Harry, 2019. "Optimal investment of DC pension plan under short-selling constraints and portfolio insurance," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 47-59.
    5. Guan, Guohui & Liang, Zongxia, 2016. "Optimal management of DC pension plan under loss aversion and Value-at-Risk constraints," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 224-237.
    6. Peng Yang & Zhiping Chen, 2023. "Optimal Private Health Insurance Contract towards the Joint Interests of a Policyholder and an Insurer," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-28, May.
    7. Dong, Yinghui & Zheng, Harry, 2020. "Optimal investment with S-shaped utility and trading and Value at Risk constraints: An application to defined contribution pension plan," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 281(2), pages 341-356.
    8. Wu, Huiling & Zhang, Ling & Chen, Hua, 2015. "Nash equilibrium strategies for a defined contribution pension management," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 202-214.
    9. Zhang, Ling & Zhang, Hao & Yao, Haixiang, 2018. "Optimal investment management for a defined contribution pension fund under imperfect information," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 210-224.
    10. Yao, Haixiang & Chen, Ping & Li, Xun, 2016. "Multi-period defined contribution pension funds investment management with regime-switching and mortality risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 103-113.
    11. Guohui Guan, 2020. "Equilibrium and Precommitment Mean-Variance Portfolio Selection Problem with Partially Observed Price Index and Multiple Assets," Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 25-47, March.
    12. Chen, D.H.J. & Beetsma, R.M.W.J. & van Wijnbergen, S.J.G., 2020. "Unhedgeable inflation risk within pension schemes," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 7-24.
    13. Pengyu Wei & Charles Yang, 2023. "Optimal investment for defined-contribution pension plans under money illusion," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 729-753, August.
    14. Menoncin, Francesco & Vigna, Elena, 2017. "Mean–variance target-based optimisation for defined contribution pension schemes in a stochastic framework," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 172-184.
    15. Sun, Jingyun & Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan, 2016. "Precommitment and equilibrium investment strategies for defined contribution pension plans under a jump–diffusion model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 158-172.
    16. Xiaoyi Zhang & Junyi Guo, 2018. "The Role of Inflation-Indexed Bond in Optimal Management of Defined Contribution Pension Plan During the Decumulation Phase," Risks, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Xiaoxiao Zheng & Xin Zhang, 2014. "Optimal investment-reinsurance policy under a long-term perspective," Papers 1406.7604, arXiv.org.
    18. Xiaoyi Zhang, 2022. "Optimal DC Pension Management Under Inflation Risk With Jump Diffusion Price Index and Cost of Living Process," Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 1253-1270, June.
    19. Liyuan Wang & Zhiping Chen, 2019. "Stochastic Game Theoretic Formulation for a Multi-Period DC Pension Plan with State-Dependent Risk Aversion," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, January.
    20. Henrique Ferreira Morici & Elena Vigna, 2023. "Optimal additional voluntary contribution in DC pension schemes to manage inadequacy risk," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 699 JEL Classification: C, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    21. Li, Shaoyu & Wei, Lijia & Xu, Zhiwei, 2017. "Dynamic asset allocation and consumption under inflation inequality: The impacts of inflation experiences and expectations," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 113-125.
    22. Guan, Guohui & Liang, Zongxia, 2016. "A stochastic Nash equilibrium portfolio game between two DC pension funds," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 237-244.
    23. Li, Yuying & Forsyth, Peter A., 2019. "A data-driven neural network approach to optimal asset allocation for target based defined contribution pension plans," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 189-204.

    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. Yao, Haixiang & Lai, Yongzeng & Ma, Qinghua & Jian, Minjie, 2014. "Asset allocation for a DC pension fund with stochastic income and mortality risk: A multi-period mean–variance framework," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 84-92.
    2. Yao, Haixiang & Chen, Ping & Li, Xun, 2016. "Multi-period defined contribution pension funds investment management with regime-switching and mortality risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 103-113.
    3. Zhiping Chen & Liyuan Wang & Ping Chen & Haixiang Yao, 2019. "Continuous-Time Mean–Variance Optimization For Defined Contribution Pension Funds With Regime-Switching," International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance (IJTAF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(06), pages 1-33, September.
    4. Guan, Guohui & Liang, Zongxia, 2015. "Mean–variance efficiency of DC pension plan under stochastic interest rate and mean-reverting returns," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 99-109.
    5. Francesco Menoncin & Elena Vigna, 2013. "Mean-variance target-based optimisation in DC plan with stochastic interest rate," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 337, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    6. Alessandro Milazzo & Elena Vigna, 2018. "The Italian Pension Gap: A Stochastic Optimal Control Approach," Risks, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Chen, Zheng & Li, Zhongfei & Zeng, Yan & Sun, Jingyun, 2017. "Asset allocation under loss aversion and minimum performance constraint in a DC pension plan with inflation risk," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 137-150.
    8. Henrique Ferreira Morici & Elena Vigna, 2023. "Optimal additional voluntary contribution in DC pension schemes to manage inadequacy risk," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 699 JEL Classification: C, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    9. Elena Vigna, 2009. "Mean-variance inefficiency of CRRA and CARA utility functions for portfolio selection in defined contribution pension schemes," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 108, Collegio Carlo Alberto, revised 2009.
    10. Han, Nan-wei & Hung, Mao-wei, 2012. "Optimal asset allocation for DC pension plans under inflation," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 172-181.
    11. Menoncin, Francesco & Vigna, Elena, 2017. "Mean–variance target-based optimisation for defined contribution pension schemes in a stochastic framework," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 172-184.
    12. Alessandro Milazzo & Elena Vigna, 2018. "“The Italian Pension Gap: a Stochastic Optimal Control Approach"," CeRP Working Papers 179, Center for Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies, Turin (Italy).
    13. Huang, Hong-Chih & Lee, Yung-Tsung, 2020. "A study of the differences among representative investment strategies," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 131-149.
    14. Guan, Guohui & Liang, Zongxia & Xia, Yi, 2023. "Optimal management of DC pension fund under the relative performance ratio and VaR constraint," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(2), pages 868-886.
    15. Josa-Fombellida, Ricardo & López-Casado, Paula & Rincón-Zapatero, Juan Pablo, 2018. "Portfolio optimization in a defined benefit pension plan where the risky assets are processes with constant elasticity of variance," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 73-86.
    16. Marina Di Giacinto & Salvatore Federico & Fausto Gozzi, 2011. "Pension funds with a minimum guarantee: a stochastic control approach," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 297-342, June.
    17. Wu, Huiling & Zhang, Ling & Chen, Hua, 2015. "Nash equilibrium strategies for a defined contribution pension management," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 202-214.
    18. Han, Nan-Wei & Hung, Mao-Wei, 2015. "The investment management for a downside-protected equity-linked annuity under interest rate risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 113-124.
    19. Elena Vigna, 2009. "Mean-variance inefficiency of CRRA and CARA utility functions for portfolio selection in defined contribution pension schemes," CeRP Working Papers 89, Center for Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies, Turin (Italy).
    20. Pengyu Wei & Charles Yang, 2023. "Optimal investment for defined-contribution pension plans under money illusion," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 729-753, August.

    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:851-863. 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.