A Finite Horizon Optimal Switching Problem with Memory and Application to Controlled SDDEs

Abstract

We consider an optimal switching problem where the terminal reward depends on the entire control trajectory. We show existence of an optimal control by applying a probabilistic technique based on the concept of Snell envelopes. We then apply this result to solve an impulse control problem for stochastic delay differential equations driven by a Brownian motion and an independent compound Poisson process. Furthermore, we show that the studied problem arises naturally when maximizing the revenue from operation of a group of hydro-power plants with hydrological coupling.