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Unified continuous-time q-learning for mean-field game and mean-field control problems

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  • Xiaoli Wei
  • Xiang Yu
  • Fengyi Yuan

Abstract

This paper studies the continuous-time q-learning in the mean-field jump-diffusion models from the representative agent's perspective. To overcome the challenge when the population distribution may not be directly observable, we introduce the integrated q-function in decoupled form (decoupled Iq-function) and establish its martingale characterization together with the value function, which provides a unified policy evaluation rule for both mean-field game (MFG) and mean-field control (MFC) problems. Moreover, depending on the task to solve the MFG or MFC problem, we can employ the decoupled Iq-function by different means to learn the mean-field equilibrium policy or the mean-field optimal policy respectively. As a result, we devise a unified q-learning algorithm for both MFG and MFC problems by utilizing all test policies stemming from the mean-field interactions. For several examples in the jump-diffusion setting, within and beyond the LQ framework, we can obtain the exact parameterization of the decoupled Iq-functions and the value functions, and illustrate our algorithm from the representative agent's perspective with satisfactory performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoli Wei & Xiang Yu & Fengyi Yuan, 2024. "Unified continuous-time q-learning for mean-field game and mean-field control problems," Papers 2407.04521, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2407.04521
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Bensoussan & K. C. J. Sung & S. C. P. Yam & S. P. Yung, 2016. "Linear-Quadratic Mean Field Games," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 169(2), pages 496-529, May.
    2. Yanwei Jia & Xun Yu Zhou, 2022. "q-Learning in Continuous Time," Papers 2207.00713, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2023.
    3. Sun, Yeneng, 2006. "The exact law of large numbers via Fubini extension and characterization of insurable risks," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 126(1), pages 31-69, January.
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