On Balder’s Existence Theorem for Infinite-Horizon Optimal Control Problems

Abstract

Balder’s well-known existence theorem (1983) for infinite-horizon optimal control problems is extended to the case in which the integral functional is understood as an improper integral. Simultaneously, the condition of strong uniform integrability (over all admissible controls and trajectories) of the positive part max{f₀, 0} of the utility function (integrand) f₀ is relaxed to the requirement that the integrals of f₀ over intervals [T, T′] be uniformly bounded above by a function ω(T, T′) such that ω(T, T′) → 0 as T, T′→∞. This requirement was proposed by A.V. Dmitruk and N.V. Kuz’kina (2005); however, the proof in the present paper does not follow their scheme, but is instead derived in a rather simple way from the auxiliary results of Balder himself. An illustrative example is also given.