Distribution-constrained optimal multiple stopping: the Root-type solution

Abstract

We consider the distribution-constrained optimal stopping problem introduced by Bayraktar and Miller (Mathematical Finance, 2019) and Beiglbock et al. (PTRF, 2018). Motivated by the multi-marginal Skorokhod embedding problems (SEP) and applications in mathematical finance, we generalize (a class of) its solution to the multi-marginal case. First, we give a probabilistic characterization of the solution as the first hitting times of barrier sets by some time-reversed process, in the same spirit as Cox et al. (PTRF, 2019). Then, we prove the optimality results using martingale inequality arguments, which extends the type of cost functions considered in Beiglbock et al. (PTRF, 2018).