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On approximative solutions of optimal stopping problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2016

Andreas Faller*
Affiliation:
University of Freiburg
Ludger Rüschendorf*
Affiliation:
University of Freiburg
*
Andreas Faller died unexpectedly on 30 June 2011.
∗∗ Postal address: Mathematical Stochastics, University of Freiburg, Eckerstr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Email address: ruschen@stochastik.uni-freiburg.de
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Abstract

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In this paper we establish an extension of the method of approximating optimal discrete-time stopping problems by related limiting stopping problems for Poisson-type processes. This extension allows us to apply this method to a larger class of examples, such as those arising, for example, from point process convergence results in extreme value theory. Furthermore, we develop new classes of solutions of the differential equations which characterize optimal threshold functions. As a particular application, we give a fairly complete discussion of the approximative optimal stopping behavior of independent and identically distributed sequences with discount and observation costs.

Type
General Applied Probability
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 2011 

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