An investor has a (possibly negative) bank balance x(t) at time t. For given positive x(0),T,μ,A and r, he wishes to choose his spending rate u(t)⩾0 so as to maximize
Φ(u;μ)≡∫0Te−βtlogu(t)dt+μe−βTx(T),
where dx(t)/dt=A+rx(t)−u(t). Find the investor's optimal choice of control u(t)=u∗(t;μ).
Let x∗(t;μ) denote the optimally-controlled bank balance. By considering next how x∗(T;μ) depends on μ, show that there is a unique positive μ∗ such that x∗(T;μ∗)=0. If the original problem is modified by setting μ=0, but requiring that x(T)⩾0, show that the optimal control for this modified problem is u(t)=u∗(t;μ∗).