Duality in convex problems of Bolza over functions of bounded variation

Abstract

This paper studies convex problems of Bolza in the conjugate duality framework of Rockafellar. We parameterize the problem by a general Borel measure which has direct economic interpretation in problems of financial economics. We derive a dual representation for the optimal value function in terms of continuous dual arcs and we give conditions for the existence of solutions. Combined with well-known results on problems of Bolza over absolutely continuous arcs, we obtain optimality conditions in terms of extended Hamiltonian conditions.