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Irreversible Investment under Lévy Uncertainty: an Equation for the Optimal Boundary

Author

Listed:
  • Ferrari, Giorgio

    (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University)

  • Salminen, Paavo

    (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University)

Abstract

We derive a new equation for the optimal investment boundary of a general irreversible investment problem under exponential Lévy uncertainty. The problem is set as an infinite time-horizon, two-dimensional degenerate singular stochastic control problem. In line with the results recently obtained in a diffusive setting, we show that the optimal boundary is intimately linked to the unique optional solution of an appropriate Bank-El Karoui representation problem. Such a relation and the Wiener-Hopf factorization allow us to derive an integral equation for the optimal investment boundary. In case the underlying Lévy process hits any point in R with positive probability we show that the integral equation for the investment boundary is uniquely satisfied by the unique solution of another equation which is easier to handle. As a remarkable by-product we prove the continuity of the optimal investment boundary. The paper is concluded with explicit results for profit functions of (i) Cobb-Douglas type and (ii) CES type. In the first case the function is separable and in the second case non-separable.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:bie:wpaper:530
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    File URL: https://pub.uni-bielefeld.de/download/2901685/2901686
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    14. Giorgio Ferrari, 2012. "On an integral equation for the free-boundary of stochastic, irreversible investment problems," Papers 1211.0412, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2015.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giorgio Ferrari & Hanwu Li & Frank Riedel, 2020. "A Knightian Irreversible Investment Problem," Papers 2003.14359, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2020.
    2. Junkee Jeon & Geonwoo Kim, 2020. "An Integral Equation Approach to the Irreversible Investment Problem with a Finite Horizon," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Torben Koch & Tiziano Vargiolu, 2019. "Optimal Installation of Solar Panels with Price Impact: a Solvable Singular Stochastic Control Problem," Papers 1911.04223, arXiv.org.

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