In this paper, we develop several related finite dimensional variational principles for discrete optimal transport (DOT), Minkowski type problems for convex polytopes and discrete Monge-Ampere equation (DMAE). A link between the discrete optimal transport, discrete Monge-Ampere equation and the power diagram in computa…
This paper studies the properties of discrete time stochastic optimal control problems associated with portfolio selection. We investigate if optimal continuous time strategies can be used effectively for a discrete time market after a straightforward discretization. We found that Merton's strategy approximates the per…
In this work, we consider the hedging error due to discrete trading in models with jumps. Extending an approach developed by Fukasawa [In Stochastic Analysis with Financial Applications (2011) 331-346 Birkhäuser/Springer Basel AG] for continuous processes, we propose a framework enabling us to (asymptotically) optimize…
Proves hardness of semi-discrete optimal transport and proposes regularization methods.
problem Computing Wasserstein distance between discrete and non-discrete probability measures.
method Proves hardness, introduces distributionally robust dual optimal transport, regularizes primal objective, uses stochastic gradient descent.
result Regularization schemes and improved convergence guarantees for semi-discrete optimal transport problems.
Investment strategy optimization from discrete to continuous models.
problem Optimizing investment strategies and stopping times in both continuous and discrete settings.
method Characterized value functions via quadratic reflected BSDEs for continuous case, discretized BSDEs for discrete case, and derived uniform convergence rates.
result Uniform convergence and rate from discrete to continuous quadratic reflected BSDEs.
A new method for categorical variational inference using discrete normalizing flows.
problem Challenges in optimizing variational approximations for discrete latent variables.
method Differentiable reparameterization using a mixture of discrete normalizing flows.
result Improves optimization of evidence lower bound and reduces sensitivity to hyperparameters.
NES optimizes discrete structured VAEs effectively without gradient propagation.
problem Learning high-dimensional discrete latent spaces in generative models.
method Natural Evolution Strategies (NES) for gradient-free optimization of discrete structures.
result NES effectively optimizes discrete structured VAEs, comparable to gradient-based methods.
Proposes a continuous relaxation for discrete Bayesian optimization.
problem Efficiently optimizing discrete data with limited target observations.
method Continuous relaxation of objective function, incorporating prior knowledge.
result Optimization can be computationally tractable with few observations.
Optimal discrete harmonic maps between hyperbolic surfaces are found via minimizing energy.
problem Finding optimal discrete harmonic maps between hyperbolic surfaces.
method Minimizing Dirichlet energy over all possible hyperbolic structures and realizations within a fixed homotopy class.
result At the optimal hyperbolic structure, the discrete harmonic map and edge weights are induced from a weighted Delaunay decomposition.
Unified framework extends adjoint Schrödinger bridge sampler to discrete spaces.
problem Challenges in learning discrete neural samplers due to gradients and combinatorial complexity.
method Introduces discrete ASBS, a unified framework that extends adjoint Schrödinger bridge sampler to discrete spaces.
result Empirically, discrete ASBS achieves competitive sample quality with significant advantages in training efficiency and scalability.
EDLP samples flat modes in discrete spaces using entropy.
problem Sampling flat modes in discrete spaces is challenging.
method EDLP uses a continuous auxiliary variable and local entropy to guide sampling.
result EDLP consistently outperforms traditional methods in various tasks.
Proposes DAM for optimizing discrete generative models.
problem Challenges in optimizing discrete generative models.
method Discrete Adjoint Matching (DAM) for discrete state spaces.
result Demonstrates effectiveness on synthetic and mathematical reasoning tasks.
We study robust stochastic optimization problems in the quasi-sure setting in discrete-time. The strategies in the multi-period-case are restricted to those taking values in a discrete set. The optimization problems under consideration are not concave. We provide conditions under which a maximizer exists. The class of …
New method reduces discrete flow transitions, improving perplexity estimation.
problem Stochasticity in discrete paths makes rectification strategies ineffective.
method Dynamic-optimal-transport-like minimization objective with minibatch strategies.
result 32 times reduction in transitions for same perplexity.
Consider power utility maximization of terminal wealth in a 1-dimensional continuous-time exponential Levy model with finite time horizon. We discretize the model by restricting portfolio adjustments to an equidistant discrete time grid. Under minimal assumptions we prove convergence of the optimal discrete-time strate…
Direct optimization of binary latent VAEs achieves competitive results without sampling.
problem Training VAEs with discrete latent variables using standard methods is challenging.
method Applied evolutionary algorithms to directly optimize discrete latent distributions.
result Direct optimization is efficient and competitive in zero-shot learning.
Paper formulates mutual information optimal control for discrete-time systems.
problem Optimal control of discrete-time linear systems with mutual information.
method Formulates MIOCP as an extension of MEOCP, derives optimal policy and prior, proposes alternating minimization algorithm.
result Proposes an alternating minimization algorithm for MIOCP.
A new discrete formula connects vertex and edge distributions on graphs.
problem Optimal transport on graphs with mixed vertex and edge distributions.
method Discrete transport equation and Benamou-Brenier formulation.
result Classification of all Wasserstein-1 geodesics on graphs.
Bayesian optimization tackles mixed discrete-continuous problems with Gaussian processes.
problem Optimizing problems with both discrete and continuous variables using costly simulations.
method Relaxing discrete variables into continuous latent variables, using Bayesian optimization, and incorporating compatibility constraints with Lagrangians.
result Comparative analysis of different mixed Bayesian optimization approaches.
Survey and benchmark high-dimensional Bayesian optimization of discrete sequences.
problem Heterogeneous experimental set-ups and technical barriers in high-dimensional Bayesian optimization of discrete sequences.
method Unified framework and software libraries to test and benchmark methods.
result Unified framework and software libraries for testing and benchmarking high-dimensional Bayesian optimization methods.
In this paper we will discuss some new developments in the design of numerical methods for optimal control problems of Lagrangian systems on Lie groups. We will construct these geometric integrators using discrete variational calculus on Lie groups, deriving a discrete version of the second-order Euler-Lagrange equatio…
Optimal strategy for liquidating portfolios under discrete time intervals.
problem Optimizing liquidation of portfolios with discrete time constraints and impact effects.
method Modeling portfolio liquidation with N risky assets, using VaR for cost measurement, and deriving an optimal liquidation time.
result The optimal liquidation time is only influenced by temporary price impacts, not permanent ones.
Graph based clustering is one of the major clustering methods. Most of it work in three separate steps: similarity graph construction, clustering label relaxing and label discretization with k-means. Such common practice has three disadvantages: 1) the predefined similarity graph is often fixed and may not be optimal f…
Hybrid Policy Optimization tackles reinforcement learning in hybrid spaces, improving performance over PPO.
problem Credit assignment issues and biased gradients in hybrid discrete-continuous action spaces.
method Mixed gradient estimator combining pathwise and score-function gradients, reformulating problems in hybrid form.
result HPO substantially outperforms PPO on inventory control and switched systems, with performance gaps increasing with continuous action dimension.
Cosine schedule is optimal for discrete diffusion models.
problem Choosing the best discretization schedule for diffusion models.
method Optimized using Fisher-Rao geometry.
result Cosine schedule is Fisher-Rao optimal.
This paper tackles convex-submodular minimax problems in mixed continuous-discrete domains.
problem Convex-submodular minimax problems in mixed continuous-discrete domains.
method Introduces new notions of optimality and proposes iterative algorithms combining discrete and continuous optimization.
result Characterizes convergence rates, computational complexity, and quality of solutions for convex and monotone-submodular minimax problems.
This research proves that quadratic regularized optimal transport can approximate the Laplace-Beltrami operator on smooth manifolds.
problem Approximating the Laplace-Beltrami operator using optimal transport with quadratic regularization.
method Deriving first-order optimal potentials and analyzing the convergence of discrete Laplace operators.
result The discrete Laplace operators converge to the Laplace-Beltrami operator on smooth manifolds.
Paper solves POMDPs in continuous time and discrete spaces.
problem Optimal decision making in discrete state and action space systems under partial observability.
method Combining optimal filtering theory and deep learning to solve a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation.
result Derives a mathematical description and solution approach for continuous-time POMDPs.
Optimizes control of noisy discrete systems without system matrix knowledge.
problem Optimal control of discrete-time systems with additive and multiplicative noises.
method Stochastic Lyapunov and Riccati equations, model-free reinforcement learning.
result Model-free reinforcement learning algorithm converges to optimal control policy.
This paper studies Bayesian ranking and selection (R&S) problems with correlated prior beliefs and continuous domains, i.e. Bayesian optimization (BO). Knowledge gradient methods [Frazier et al., 2008, 2009] have been widely studied for discrete R&S problems, which sample the one-step Bayes-optimal point. When used ove…
Study optimal hedging for claims with random weights in discrete time.
problem Optimal hedging for claims with random weights in discrete time.
method Explicit recursive representation of optimal hedging strategy, without ND condition.
result Obtained explicit optimal hedging strategy in a recursive form.
Optimizes portfolios with discrete units using simulated annealing.
problem Finding optimal asset allocation in finance with discrete units.
method Integer simulated annealing method for combinatorial optimization.
result Classical resources can efficiently solve discretized convex portfolio optimization problems.
ADCMs adaptively discretize CMs for efficient training.
problem Manual discretization schemes cause repeated adjustments for different noise schedules and datasets.
method Unified framework with optimization problem, local and global consistency constraints, and Gauss-Newton method.
result Significantly improve training efficiency and generative performance of CMs.
Efficient deep policy gradient method for continuous-time control problems.
problem Optimal control in continuous time with fine time discretization.
method Multi-scale deep policy gradient method with varying time discretization.
result Targeted efficiency in computational resources achieved through multi-scale approach.
New method uses continuous OT for fairness, outperforming discrete OT.
problem Fairness issues in machine learning models.
method Stochastic-gradient fairness method based on continuous optimal transport.
result Continuous OT method outperforms discrete OT when data is limited.
Deriving and applying Proximal Policy Optimization to GFlowNets for efficient training of discrete sampling policies
problem Training stochastic policies to sample from structured discrete probability distributions
method Deriving policy gradient algorithms for GFlowNets and applying Proximal Policy Optimization
result Improved convergence speed and data efficiency compared to standard GFlowNet training objectives
RL solves discrete LQ control with Gaussian optimal policy.
problem Discrete-time linear-quadratic control problem.
method Entropy-based RL to find Gaussian optimal policy.
result RL algorithm solves mean-variance asset-liability management problem.
Paper optimizes clustering for multi-layer networks and discrete mixtures.
problem Optimizing clustering in multi-layer networks and discrete mixtures.
method Two-stage method: tensor-based initialization and likelihood-based refinement.
result Achieves minimax optimal error rate for multi-layer networks and discrete mixtures.
Ada-BKB optimizes black-box functions on continuous domains with adaptive discretization.
problem Optimizing functions with continuous domains using Gaussian process optimization.
method Adaptive discretization of the function domain to avoid non-convex optimization costs.
result Ada-BKB algorithm runs in O(T2dexteff2), significantly faster than existing methods. We propose a novel high-dimensional linear regression estimator: the Discrete Dantzig Selector, which minimizes the number of nonzero regression coefficients subject to a budget on the maximal absolute correlation between the features and residuals. Motivated by the significant advances in integer optimization over the…
StochasticRank optimizes ranking metrics efficiently and guarantees global convergence.
problem Optimizing discrete ranking metrics due to their ill-posed nature.
method Stochastic smoothing, gradient estimate, debiasing, and Stochastic Gradient Langevin Boosting.
result Global convergence and superior performance on ranking datasets.
We present a new approach for studying the problem of optimal hedging of a European option in a finite and complete discrete-time market model. We consider partial hedging strategies that maximize the success probability or minimize the expected shortfall under a cost constraint and show that these problems can be trea…
SHIFT method optimally estimates heterogeneous discrete distributions with limited communication.
problem Collaborative learning of discrete distributions under heterogeneity and communication constraints.
method Two-stage method: First, users learn a central distribution; then, fine-tune this to estimate individual distributions.
result SHIFT is minimax optimal in the model of heterogeneity and under communication constraints.
The paper confirms a conjecture about optimal expected utility in markets with insider information.
problem Optimal expected utility in markets with insider information.
method An extension of the Black-Scholes-Merton model with a sequence of discrete-time economies.
result Optimal expected utility converges to the classic model when conditions are met.
In this article we discuss the problem of calculating optimal model-independent (robust) bounds for the price of Asian options with discrete and continuous averaging. We will give geometric characterisations of the maximising and the minimising pricing model for certain types of Asian options in discrete and continuous…
Paper proposes an efficient algorithm for learning sparse Bayesian networks from discrete high-dimensional data.
problem Learning sparse structure Bayesian networks from high-dimensional discrete data.
method Score function for sparse DAG, block-wise stochastic coordinate descent with variance reduction.
result The proposed algorithm outperforms existing methods in synthetic data benchmarks.
We consider a discrete-time financial market model with finite time horizon and give conditions which guarantee the existence of an optimal strategy for the problem of maximizing expected terminal utility. Equivalent martingale measures are constructed using optimal strategies.
Stochastic optimization improves semi-discrete OT map estimation with a minimax rate.
problem Empirical success of SGD in semi-discrete OT, but lack of theoretical guarantees.
method Averaged projected SGD with a minimax convergence rate of O(1/√n).
result SGD methods can estimate the OT map with a minimax convergence rate of O(1/√n).