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We study principal-agent problems where a farsighted agent takes costly actions in an MDP. The core challenge in these settings is that agent's actions are hidden to the principal, who can only observe their outcomes, namely state…

Computer Science and Game Theory · Computer Science 2024-10-18 Matteo Bollini , Francesco Bacchiocchi , Matteo Castiglioni , Alberto Marchesi , Nicola Gatti

This paper studies a class of non$-$Markovian singular stochastic control problems, for which we provide a novel probabilistic representation. The solution of such control problem is proved to identify with the solution of a $Z-$constrained…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2018-02-27 Romuald Elie , Ludovic Moreau , Dylan Possamaï

Using a recently introduced representation of the second order adjoint state as the solution of a function-valued backward stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE), we calculate the viscosity super- and subdifferential of the value…

Probability · Mathematics 2024-06-27 Wilhelm Stannat , Lukas Wessels

We give a new formulation of the relative arbitrage problem from stochastic portfolio theory that asks for a time horizon beyond which arbitrage relative to the market exists in all ``sufficiently volatile'' markets. In our formulation,…

Mathematical Finance · Quantitative Finance 2025-12-22 Jou-Hua Lai , Mykhaylo Shkolnikov , H. Mete Soner

We study a two-period moral hazard problem; there are two agents, with action sets that are unknown to the principal. The principal contracts with each agent sequentially, and seeks to maximize the worst-case discounted sum of payoffs,…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2024-02-15 Chang Liu

In this paper, we address three Principal--Agent problems in a moral hazard context and show that they are connected. We start by studying the problem of Principal with multiple Agents in cooperation. The term cooperation is manifested here…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2024-10-23 Mao Fabrice Djete

The optimal stopping problem is one of the core problems in financial markets, with broad applications such as pricing American and Bermudan options. The deep BSDE method [Han, Jentzen and E, PNAS, 115(34):8505-8510, 2018] has shown great…

Probability · Mathematics 2023-08-28 Chengfan Gao , Siping Gao , Ruimeng Hu , Zimu Zhu

This paper is concerned with a linear-quadratic (LQ, for short) optimal control problem for backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs, for short), where the coefficients of the backward control system and the weighting matrices in…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2021-05-14 Jingrui Sun , Hanxiao Wang

We analyze conditional optimization problems arising in discrete time Principal-Agent problems of delegated portfolio optimization with linear contracts. Applying tools from Conditional Analysis we show that some results known in the…

Mathematical Finance · Quantitative Finance 2016-06-15 Julio Backhoff , Ulrich Horst

In this paper we consider a principal agent problem where the agent is allowed to quit, by incurring a cost. When the current agent quits the job, the principal will hire a new one, possibly with a different type. We characterize the…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2024-09-04 Jianfeng Zhang , Zimu Zhu

We study principal-agent problems in which a principal commits to an outcome-dependent payment scheme -- called contract -- in order to induce an agent to take a costly, unobservable action leading to favorable outcomes. We consider a…

Computer Science and Game Theory · Computer Science 2024-06-10 Francesco Bacchiocchi , Matteo Castiglioni , Alberto Marchesi , Nicola Gatti

We consider the principal-agent problem with heterogeneous agents. Previous works assume that the principal signs independent incentive contracts with every agent to make them invest more efforts on the tasks. However, in many…

Multiagent Systems · Computer Science 2019-11-12 Shenke Xiao , Zihe Wang , Mengjing Chen , Pingzhong Tang , Xiwang Yang

We consider a continuous time Principal-Agent model on a finite time horizon, where we look for the existence of an optimal contract both parties agreed on. Contrary to the main stream, where the principal is modelled as risk-neutral, we…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2018-06-06 Kerem Ugurlu

We study the combinatorial contract design problem, introduced and studied by Dutting et. al. (2021, 2022), in both the single and multi-agent settings. Prior work has examined the problem when the principal's utility function is submodular…

Computer Science and Game Theory · Computer Science 2023-08-16 Ramiro Deo-Campo Vuong , Shaddin Dughmi , Neel Patel , Aditya Prasad

We initiate the study of a repeated principal-agent problem over a finite horizon $T$, where a principal sequentially interacts with $K\geq 2$ types of agents arriving in an adversarial order. At each round, the principal strategically…

Computer Science and Game Theory · Computer Science 2025-08-05 Junyan Liu , Arnab Maiti , Artin Tajdini , Kevin Jamieson , Lillian J. Ratliff

This paper proposes a novel continuous-time dynamic contract framework that has a risk-limiting capability. If a principal and an agent enter into such a contract, the principal can optimally manage its performance and risk with a guarantee…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2014-10-10 Insoon Yang , Duncan S. Callaway , Claire J. Tomlin

We study an optimal execution problem in illiquid markets with both instantaneous and persistent price impact and stochastic resilience when only absolutely continuous trading strategies are admissible. In our model the value function can…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2017-11-30 Paulwin Graewe , Ulrich Horst

The paper is devoted to a stochastic optimal control problem for a two scale, infinite dimensional, stochastic system. The state of the system consists of slow and fast component and its evolution is driven by both continuous Wiener noises…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2024-01-17 Elena Bandini , Giuseppina Guatteri , Gianmario Tessitore

This paper addresses the challenge of time-inconsistent stochastic control within a continuous-time framework. Its primary focus lies in uncovering a probabilistic representation, specifically in the shape of a system of backward stochastic…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2026-03-24 Dylan Possamaï , Mateo Rodriguez Polo

We study a stochastic optimal control problem for forward-backward control systems with quadratic generators. In order to establish the first and second-order variational and adjoint equations, we obtain a new estimate for one-dimensional…

Optimization and Control · Mathematics 2021-07-06 Mingshang Hu , Shaolin Ji , Rundong Xu