Further Topics on Discrete-Time Markov Control Processes

de Onesimo Hernandez-Lerma, Jean B. Lasserre

This book is devoted to a systematic exposition of some recent developments in the theory of discrete-time Markov control processes. Interest is mainly confined to MCPs with Borel state and control spaces, and possibly unbounded costs. The book follows on from the authors earlier volume in this area, however, an important feature of the present volume is that it is essentially self-contained and can be read independently of the first volume, because although both volumes deal with similar classes of markov control processes the assumptions on the control models are usually different. This volume allows cost functions to take positive or negative values, as needed in some applications. The control model studied is sufficiently general to include virtually all the usual discrete-time stochastic control models that appear in applications to engineering, economics, mathematical population processes, operations research, and management science.