A Dynamic Programming Approach to Constrained Portfolios

Holger Kraft, Mogens Steffensen

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper studies constrained portfolio problems that may involve constraints on the probability or the expected size of a shortfall of wealth or consumption. Our first contribution is that we solve the problems by dynamic programming, which is in contrast to the existing literature that applies the martingale method. More precisely, we construct the non-separable value function by formalizing the optimal constrained terminal wealth to be a (conjectured) contingent claim on the optimal non-constrained terminal wealth. This is relevant by itself, but also opens up the opportunity to derive new solutions to constrained problems. As a second contribution, we thus derive new results for non-strict constraints on the shortfall of intermediate wealth and/or consumption.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research
Volume229
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)453-461
ISSN0377-2217
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2013

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