A potential-theoretic approach to optimal stopping in a spectrally L\'evy Model

Abstract

We establish a systematic solution method for optimal stopping problems of spectrally negative L\'evy processes. Our approach relies essentially on the potential theory, in particular the Riesz decomposition and the maximum principle. Using these mathematical results, we not only derive necessary and sufficient conditions of optimality for a broad class of reward functions, but also develop a method to tackle general problems in a direct and constructive way (without pre-specifying the solution form). To reinforce the latter point, we provide a step-by-step solution procedure applicable to complex solution structures, including continuation regions with multiple connected components.