Explicit solutions in one-sided optimal stopping problems for one-dimensional diffusions

Fabián Crocce, Ernesto Mordecki

Published 2013-02-04, updated 2013-07-02Version 2

Consider the optimal stopping problem of a one-dimensional diffusion with positive discount. Based on Dynkin's characterization of the value as the minimal excessive majorant of the reward and considering its Riesz representation, we give an explicit equation to find the optimal stopping threshold for problems with one-sided stopping regions, and an explicit formula for the value function of the problem. This representation also gives light on the validity of the smooth fit principle. The results are illustrated by solving some classical problems, and also through the solution of: optimal stopping of the skew Brownian motion, and optimal stopping of the sticky Brownian motion, including cases in which the smooth fit principle fails.