English

Global regularity of the value function in a stopper vs. singular-controller game

Optimization and Control 2025-06-25 v1 Analysis of PDEs Probability

Abstract

We study a class of zero-sum stochastic games between a stopper and a singular-controller, previously considered in [Bovo and De Angelis (2025)]. The underlying singularly-controlled dynamics takes values in OR\mathcal{O}\subseteq\mathbb{R}. The problem is set on a finite time-horizon and is connected to a parabolic variational inequality of min-max type with spatial-derivative and obstacle constraints. We show that the value function of the problem is of class C1C^1 in the whole domain [0,T)×O[0,T)\times\mathcal{O} and that the second-order spatial derivative and the second-order mixed derivative are continuous everywhere except for a (potential) jump across a non-decreasing curve (the stopping boundary of the game). The latter discontinuity is a natural consequence of the partial differential equation associated to the problem. Beyond its intrinsic analytical value, such a regularity for the value function is a stepping stone for further exploring the structure and properties of the free-boundaries of the stochastic game, which in turn determine the optimal strategies of the players.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2506.19129,
  title  = {Global regularity of the value function in a stopper vs. singular-controller game},
  author = {Andrea Bovo and Alessandro Milazzo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.19129},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

25 pages

R2 v1 2026-07-01T03:30:23.371Z