Necessary/sufficient conditions for Pareto optimality in finite horizon mean-field type stochastic differential game

Abstract

This paper is concerned with necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of Pareto solutions in finite horizon mean-field type stochastic cooperative differential game. Based on the equivalent characterization of Pareto optimality, the problem is transformed into a set of constrained mean-field type stochastic optimal control problems with a special structure. Utilizing the mean-field type stochastic minimum principle, the necessary conditions are put forward. Under certain convex assumptions, it is shown that the necessary conditions are also sufficient ones. Next, the indefinite linear quadratic (LQ) case is studied. It is pointed out that the solvability of two related generalized differential Riccati equations (GDREs) provides a sufficient condition under which Pareto efficient strategies are equivalent to weighted sum optimal controls. In addition, all Pareto solutions are obtained based on the solutions of two generalized differential Lyapunov equations (GDLEs). At last, an example sheds light on the effectiveness of the theoretical results.