Efficient Intertemporal Allocations with Recursive Utility

Efficient Intertemporal Allocations with Recursive Utility
Author: Bernard Dumas
Publisher:
Total Pages: 46
Release: 1999
Genre: Resource allocation
ISBN:

In this article, our objective is to determine efficient allocations in economies with multiple agents having recursive utility functions. Our main result is to show that in a multiagent economy, the problem of determining efficient allocations can be characterized in terms of a single value function (that of a social planner), rather than multiple functions (one for each investor), as has been proposed thus far (Duffie, Geoffard and Skiadas (1994)). We then show how the single value function can be identified using the familiar technique of stochastic dynamic programming. We achieve these goals by first extending to a stochastic environment Geoffard's (1996) concept of variational utility and his result that variational utility is equivalent to recursive utility, and then using these results to characterize allocations in a multiagent setting.

Contract Theory in Continuous-Time Models

Contract Theory in Continuous-Time Models
Author: Jakša Cvitanic
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2012-09-26
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3642141994

In recent years there has been a significant increase of interest in continuous-time Principal-Agent models, or contract theory, and their applications. Continuous-time models provide a powerful and elegant framework for solving stochastic optimization problems of finding the optimal contracts between two parties, under various assumptions on the information they have access to, and the effect they have on the underlying "profit/loss" values. This monograph surveys recent results of the theory in a systematic way, using the approach of the so-called Stochastic Maximum Principle, in models driven by Brownian Motion. Optimal contracts are characterized via a system of Forward-Backward Stochastic Differential Equations. In a number of interesting special cases these can be solved explicitly, enabling derivation of many qualitative economic conclusions.

Asset Pricing Theory

Asset Pricing Theory
Author: Costis Skiadas
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 363
Release: 2009-02-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1400830141

Asset Pricing Theory is an advanced textbook for doctoral students and researchers that offers a modern introduction to the theoretical and methodological foundations of competitive asset pricing. Costis Skiadas develops in depth the fundamentals of arbitrage pricing, mean-variance analysis, equilibrium pricing, and optimal consumption/portfolio choice in discrete settings, but with emphasis on geometric and martingale methods that facilitate an effortless transition to the more advanced continuous-time theory. Among the book's many innovations are its use of recursive utility as the benchmark representation of dynamic preferences, and an associated theory of equilibrium pricing and optimal portfolio choice that goes beyond the existing literature. Asset Pricing Theory is complete with extensive exercises at the end of every chapter and comprehensive mathematical appendixes, making this book a self-contained resource for graduate students and academic researchers, as well as mathematically sophisticated practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of concepts and methods on which practical models are built. Covers in depth the modern theoretical foundations of competitive asset pricing and consumption/portfolio choice Uses recursive utility as the benchmark preference representation in dynamic settings Sets the foundations for advanced modeling using geometric arguments and martingale methodology Features self-contained mathematical appendixes Includes extensive end-of-chapter exercises

Economic Dynamics in Discrete Time, second edition

Economic Dynamics in Discrete Time, second edition
Author: Jianjun Miao
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 849
Release: 2020-03-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 026235733X

A unified and comprehensive introduction to the analytical and numerical tools for solving dynamic economic problems; substantially revised for the second edition. This book offers a unified, comprehensive, and up-to-date treatment of analytical and numerical tools for solving dynamic economic problems. The focus is on introducing recursive methods—an important part of every economist's set of tools—and readers will learn to apply recursive methods to a variety of dynamic economic problems. The book is notable for its combination of theoretical foundations and numerical methods. Each topic is first described in theoretical terms, with explicit definitions and rigorous proofs; numerical methods and computer codes to implement these methods follow. Drawing on the latest research, the book covers such cutting-edge topics as asset price bubbles, recursive utility, robust control, policy analysis in dynamic New Keynesian models with the zero lower bound on interest rates, and Bayesian estimation of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. This second edition has been substantially updated. Responding to renewed interest in modeling with multiple equilibria, it incorporates new material on this topic throughout. It offers an entirely new chapter on deterministic nonlinear systems, and provides new material on such topics as linear planar systems, chaos, bifurcations, indeterminacy and sunspot solutions, pruning nonlinear solutions, the bandit problem, rational inattention models, bequests, self-fulfilling prophecies, the cyclical behavior of unemployment and vacancies, and the long-run risk model. The exposition of each chapter has been revised and improved, and many new figures, Matlab codes, and exercises have been added. A student solutions manual can be purchased separately.

Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory

Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory
Author: Darrell Duffie
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 488
Release: 2010-01-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1400829208

This is a thoroughly updated edition of Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory, the standard text for doctoral students and researchers on the theory of asset pricing and portfolio selection in multiperiod settings under uncertainty. The asset pricing results are based on the three increasingly restrictive assumptions: absence of arbitrage, single-agent optimality, and equilibrium. These results are unified with two key concepts, state prices and martingales. Technicalities are given relatively little emphasis, so as to draw connections between these concepts and to make plain the similarities between discrete and continuous-time models. Readers will be particularly intrigued by this latest edition's most significant new feature: a chapter on corporate securities that offers alternative approaches to the valuation of corporate debt. Also, while much of the continuous-time portion of the theory is based on Brownian motion, this third edition introduces jumps--for example, those associated with Poisson arrivals--in order to accommodate surprise events such as bond defaults. Applications include term-structure models, derivative valuation, and hedging methods. Numerical methods covered include Monte Carlo simulation and finite-difference solutions for partial differential equations. Each chapter provides extensive problem exercises and notes to the literature. A system of appendixes reviews the necessary mathematical concepts. And references have been updated throughout. With this new edition, Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory remains at the head of the field.

Uncertainty Within Economic Models

Uncertainty Within Economic Models
Author: Lars Peter Hansen
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 483
Release: 2014-09-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9814578134

Written by Lars Peter Hansen (Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2013) and Thomas Sargent (Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2011), Uncertainty within Economic Models includes articles adapting and applying robust control theory to problems in economics and finance. This book extends rational expectations models by including agents who doubt their models and adopt precautionary decisions designed to protect themselves from adverse consequences of model misspecification. This behavior has consequences for what are ordinarily interpreted as market prices of risk, but big parts of which should actually be interpreted as market prices of model uncertainty. The chapters discuss ways of calibrating agents' fears of model misspecification in quantitative contexts.