Existence of Arrow-Debreu Equilibrium with S-shaped Utility Function

This paper characterizes the optimal solution of subjective expected utility with S-shaped utilityfunction,by using the prospect theory(PT).We also prove the existence of Arrow-Debreu equilibrium.     

Objective comparisons of the optimal portfolios corresponding to different utility functions

This paper considers the effects of some frequently used utility functions in portfolio selection by comparing the optimal investment outcomes corresponding to these utility functions. Assets are assumed to form a complete market of the Black–Scholes type. Under consideration are four frequently used utility functions: the power, logarithm, exponential and quadratic utility functions. To make objective comparisons, the optimal terminal wealths are derived by integration representation. The optimal strategies which yield optimal values are obtained by the integration representation of a Brownian martingale. The explicit strategy for the quadratic utility function is new. The strategies for other utility functions such as the power and the logarithm utility functions obtained this way coincide with known results obtained from Merton’s dynamic programming approach.     

S-Shaped Response Functions: Implications for Decision Models

This paper discusses the implications for analysis and parameter estimation of optimization using S-shaped (convex-concave) response functions.     

Optimal investment of DC pension plan under short-selling constraints and portfolio insurance

In this paper we investigate an optimal investment problem under short-selling and portfolio insurance constraints faced by a defined contribution pension fund manager who is loss averse. The financial market consists of a cash bond, an indexed bond and a stock. The manager aims to maximize the expected S-shaped utility of the terminal wealth exceeding a minimum guarantee. We apply the dual control method to solve the problem and derive the representations of the optimal wealth process and trading strategies in terms of the dual controlled process and the dual value function. We also perform some numerical tests and show how the S-shaped utility, the short-selling constraints and the portfolio insurance impact the optimal terminal wealth.     

Nonconforming mixed finite elements for linear elasticity on simplicial grids

This paper introduces a new family of nonconforming mixed finite elements for solving the linear elasticity equations on simplicial grids. Besides, this paper describes the construction of the lowest order basis functions. The construction only involves simple computations due to the new explicit stress shape function spaces and the procedure applies for high order cases. Numerical experiments for four benchmark problems in mechanics indicate the robust locking‐free behavior and show that the lowest order nonconforming mixed method leads to smaller stress errors than the first and second order standard Galerkin methods for the nearly incompressible case.     

基于加权效用和VaR-PI约束下DC型养老金计划的最优资产配置

本文从养老金计划参与人和基金经理的双重视角出发,以最大化双方加权的期望效用为目标,研究了在最低保障和VaR约束下,DC养老金计划的最优资产配置问题。假设养老金计划参与人和基金经理均是损失厌恶的,分别用两个S型的效用函数来刻画双方的损失厌恶行为。VaR约束和加权的效用函数使得本文所研究的优化问题成为一个复杂的非凹效用最大化问题。利用拉格朗日对偶理论和凹化方法求得了最优财富和最优投资组合的封闭解。数值结论表明当更为看重养老金计划参与人的利益时,基金经理会采取更为激进的投资策略,VaR约束可以改进对DC养老金计划的风险管理。     

Consumption and portfolio rules for time-inconsistent investors

This paper extends the classical consumption and portfolio rules model in continuous time [Merton, R.C., 1969. Lifetime portfolio selection under uncertainty: The continuous time case. Review of Economics and Statistics 51, 247–257, Merton, R.C., 1971. Optimum consumption and portfolio rules in a continuous time model. Journal of Economic Theory 3, 373–413] to the framework of decision-makers with time-inconsistent preferences. The model is solved for different utility functions for both, naive and sophisticated agents, and the results are compared. In order to solve the problem for sophisticated agents, we derive a modified HJB (Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman) equation. It is illustrated how for CRRA functions within the family of HARA functions (logarithmic and power utilities) the optimal portfolio rule does not depend on the discount rate, but this is not the case for a general utility function, such as the exponential (CARA) utility function.     

On finding an envy-free Pareto-optimal division

This paper describes an algorithm to find an (α-)envy-free Pareto-optimal division in the case of a finite number of homogeneous infinitely divisible goods and linear utility functions. It is used to find an allocation in the classical cake division problem that is almost Pareto-optimal and α-envy-free.     

HARA frontiers of optimal portfolios in stochastic markets

In this paper, we consider the optimal portfolio selection problem in continuous-time settings where the investor maximizes the expected utility of the terminal wealth in a stochastic market. The utility function has the structure of the HARA family and the market states change according to a Markov process. The states of the market describe the prevailing economic, financial, social and other conditions that affect the deterministic and probabilistic parameters of the model. This includes the distributions of the random asset returns as well as the utility function. We analyzed Black–Scholes type continuous-time models where the market parameters are driven by Markov processes. The Markov process that affects the state of the market is independent of the underlying Brownian motion that drives the stock prices. The problem of maximizing the expected utility of the terminal wealth is investigated and solved by stochastic optimal control methods for exponential, logarithmic and power utility functions. We found explicit solutions for optimal policy and the associated value functions. We also constructed the optimal wealth process explicitly and discussed some of its properties. In particular, it is shown that the optimal policy provides linear frontiers.     

Structure of the first-order solution set for a class of nonlinear programs with parameters

This paper studies the set of first-order solutions of a family of nonlinear programs in which the inequality constraints are fixed but the right hand side of the equality constraints varies. It is shown that under certain conditions this set is a topological manifold. The results are applied to the problem of describing the set of first-order Pareto optima in a pure exchange economy with monotone utility functions.     

Forecasting S-shaped diffusion processes via response modelling methodology

Diffusion processes abound in various areas of corporate activities, such as the time-dependent behaviour of cumulative demand of a new product, or the adoption rate of a technological innovation. In most cases, the proportion of the population that has adopted the new product by time t behaves like an S-shaped curve, which resembles the sigmoid curve typical to many known statistical distribution functions. This analogy has motivated the common use of the latter for forecasting purposes. Recently, a new methodology for empirical modelling has been developed, termed response modelling methodology (RMM). The error distribution of the RMM model has been shown to model well variously shaped distribution functions, and may therefore be adequate to forecast sigmoid-curve processes. In particular, RMM may be applied to forecast S-shaped diffusion processes. In this paper, forty-seven data sets, assembled from published sources by Meade and Islam, are used to compare the accuracy and the stability of RMM-generated forecasts, relative to current commonly applied models. Results show that in most comparisons RMM forecasts outperform those based on any individually selected distributional model.     

Fair cubic transition between two circles with one circle inside or tangent to the other

This paper describes a method for joining two circles with a C-shaped and an S-shaped transition curve, composed of a cubic Bézier segment. As an extension of our previous work; we show that a single cubic curve can be used for blending or for a transition curve preserving G ² continuity regardless of the distance of their centers and magnitudes of the radii which is an advantage. Our method with shape parameter provides freedom to modify the shape in a stable manner.     

Moments of utility functions and their applications

This paper presents moments and cross-moments of utility functions and measures of utility dependence. We start with an interpretation of the nth moment of a utility function, and describe methods for its assessment in practice and consistency checks that need to be satisfied for any assessed moments. We then show how moments of a utility function (i) provide a new method to determine the parameters of a given functional form of a utility function and (ii) to derive the functional form of a utility function that satisfies some given moment assessments. Next, we derive a fundamental formula that relates the expected utility of a joint distribution to the expected utility of the marginal distributions for multiattribute utility functions. We use this formulation to provide an intuitive interpretation for cross-moments of utility functions and illustrate their use in (i) constructing multiattribute utility functions that incorporate utility dependence and (ii) in providing necessary conditions for utility independence in decisions with multiple attributes. We end with a new measure of utility dependence for multiattribute utility functions and work through several examples to illustrate the approach.     

An intertemporal utility function concave in gains and convex in losses

This paper generalizes the theory of intertemporal utility functions to allow for expectations. The resulting model describes the reference effect phenomenon noted by Kahneman and Tversky in both deterministic as well as stochastic problem situations.     

Mean-variance versus expected utility in dynamic investment analysis

Given the existence of a Markovian state price density process, this paper extends Merton??s continuous time (instantaneous) mean-variance analysis and the mutual fund separation theory in which the risky fund can be chosen to be the growth optimal portfolio. The CAPM obtains without the assumption of log-normality for prices. The optimal investment policies for the case of a hyperbolic absolute risk aversion (HARA) utility function are derived analytically. It is proved that only the quadratic utility exhibits the global mean-variance efficiency among the family of HARA utility functions. A numerical comparison is made between the growth optimal portfolio and the mean-variance analysis for the case of log-normal prices. The optimal choice of target return which maximizes the probability that the mean-variance analysis outperforms the expected utility portfolio is discussed. Mean variance analysis is better near the mean and the expected utility maximization is better in the tails.     

An analytical framework for aggregating multiattribute utility functions

This paper proposes a procedure for aggregating individual cardinal utility functions into a social utility function that represents the preferences of all the individuals as a whole. The procedure is non-interactive and is based upon the determination of the utility consensus values. This is accomplished by minimizing a distance function model that is transformed into an Archimedean goal programming problem. The procedure is applied to a general group multilinear utility function.     

Optimal Investment Strategies for an Insurer with SAHARA Utility

In this paper, we consider the optimal investment strategy which maximizes the utility of the terminal wealth of an insurer with SAHARA utility functions. This class of utility functions has non-monotone absolute risk aversion, which is more flexible than the CARA and CRRA utility functions. In the case that the risk process is modeled as a Brownian motion and the stock process is modeled as a geometric Brownian motion, we get the closed-form solutions for our problem by the martingale method for both the constant threshold and when the threshold evolves dynamically according to a specific process. Finally, we show that the optimal strategy is state-dependent.     

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??In this paper, we consider the optimal investment strategy which maximizes the utility of the terminal wealth of an insurer with SAHARA utility functions. This class of utility functions has non-monotone absolute risk aversion, which is more flexible than the CARA and CRRA utility functions. In the case that the risk process is modeled as a Brownian motion and the stock process is modeled as a geometric Brownian motion, we get the closed-form solutions for our problem by the martingale method for both the constant threshold and when the threshold evolves dynamically according to a specific process. Finally, we show that the optimal strategy is state-dependent.     

Using Utility Functions to Model Risky Bonds

This paper prices defaultable bonds by incorporating inherent risks with the use of utility functions. By allowing risk preferences into the valuation of bonds, nonlinearity is introduced in their pricing. The utility‐function approach affords the advantage of yielding exact solutions to the risky bond pricing equation when familiar stochastic models are used for interest rates. This can be achieved even when the default probability parameter is itself a stochastic variable. Valuations are found for the power‐law and log utility functions under the interest‐rate dynamics of the extended Vasicek and CIR models.     

The constructive theory of preference relations on a locally compact space

This paper, which is written within a rigorously constructive framework, deals with preference relations (strict weak orders) on a locally compact space X, and with the representation of such relations by continuous utility functions (order isomorphisms) from X into ℝ. Necessary conditions are given for finding the values of a utility function algorithmically in terms of the parameters when X is a locally compact, convex subset of R^N. These conditions single out the class of admissible preference relations, which are investigated in some detail. The paper concludes with some results on the algorithmic continuity of the process which assigns utility functions to admissible preference relations.The work of this paper can be regarded as a recursive development of preference and utility theory.