Markov-modulated Brownian motion with two reflecting barriers

We consider a Markov-modulated Brownian motion reflected to stay in a strip [0,B]. The stationary distribution of this process is known to have a simple form under some assumptions. We provide a short probabilistic argument leading to this result and explaining its simplicity. Moreover, this argument allows for generalizations including the distribution of the reflected process at an independent exponentially distributed epoch. Our second contribution concerns transient behavior of the reflected system. We identify the joint law of the processes t,X(t),J(t) at inverse local times.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

First passage process of a Markov additive process, with applications to reflection problems

In this paper we consider the first passage process of a spectrally negative Markov additive process (MAP). The law of this process is uniquely characterized by a certain matrix function, which plays a crucial role in fluctuation theory. We show how to identify this matrix using the theory of Jordan chains associated with analytic matrix functions. Importantly, our result also provides us with a technique, which can be used to derive various further identities. We then proceed to show how to compute the stationary distribution associated with a one-sided reflected (at zero) MAP for both the spectrally positive and spectrally negative cases as well as for the two sided reflected Markov-modulated Brownian motion; these results can be interpreted in terms of queues with MAP input.Comment: 16 page

Power identities for L\'evy risk models under taxation and capital injections

In this paper we study a spectrally negative L\'evy process which is refracted at its running maximum and at the same time reflected from below at a certain level. Such a process can for instance be used to model an insurance surplus process subject to tax payments according to a loss-carry-forward scheme together with the flow of minimal capital injections required to keep the surplus process non-negative. We characterize the first passage time over an arbitrary level and the cumulative amount of injected capital up to this time by their joint Laplace transform, and show that it satisfies a simple power relation to the case without refraction. It turns out that this identity can also be extended to a certain type of refraction from below. The net present value of tax collected before the cumulative injected capital exceeds a certain amount is determined, and a numerical illustration is provided

Occupation densities in solving exit problems for Markov additive processes and their reflections

This paper solves exit problems for spectrally negative Markov additive processes and their reflections. A so-called scale matrix, which is a generalization of the scale function of a spectrally negative \levy process, plays a central role in the study of exit problems. Existence of the scale matrix was shown in Thm. 3 of Kyprianou and Palmowski (2008). We provide a probabilistic construction of the scale matrix, and identify the transform. In addition, we generalize to the MAP setting the relation between the scale function and the excursion (height) measure. The main technique is based on the occupation density formula and even in the context of fluctuations of spectrally negative L\'{e}vy processes this idea seems to be new. Our representation of the scale matrix W(x)=e^{-\Lambda x}\eL(x) in terms of nice probabilistic objects opens up possibilities for further investigation of its properties

One-dimensional reflected diffusions with two boundaries and an inverse first-hitting problem

We study an inverse first-hitting problem for a one-dimensional, time-homogeneous diffusion $X(t)$ reflected between two boundaries $a$ and $b,$ which starts from a random position $\eta.$ Let $a \le S \le b$ be a given threshold, such that $P( \eta \in [a,S])=1,$ and $F$ an assigned distribution function. The problem consists of finding the distribution of $\eta$ such that the first-hitting time of $X$ to $S$ has distribution $F.$ This is a generalization of the analogous problem for ordinary diffusions, i.e. without reflecting, previously considered by the author

First passage problems for upwards skip-free random walks via the Φ,W,Z\Phi,W,Z paradigm

We develop the theory of the $W$ and $Z$ scale functions for right-continuous (upwards skip-free) discrete-time discrete-space random walks, along the lines of the analogue theory for spectrally negative L\'evy processes. Notably, we introduce for the first time in this context the one and two-parameter scale functions $Z$, which appear for example in the joint problem of deficit at ruin and time of ruin, and in problems concerning the walk reflected at an upper barrier. Comparisons are made between the various theories of scale functions as one makes time and/or space continuous. The theory is shown to be fruitful by providing a convenient unified framework for studying dividends-capital injection problems under various objectives, for the so-called compound binomial risk model of actuarial science.Comment: 27 page

Two-sided reflected Markov-modulated Brownian motion with applications to fluid queues and dividend payouts

In this paper we study a reflected Markov-modulated Brownian motion with a two sided reflection in which the drift, diffusion coefficient and the two boundaries are (jointly) modulated by a finite state space irreducible continuous time Markov chain. The goal is to compute the stationary distribution of this Markov process, which in addition to the complication of having a stochastic boundary can also include jumps at state change epochs of the underlying Markov chain because of the boundary changes. We give the general theory and then specialize to the case where the underlying Markov chain has two states. Moreover, motivated by an application of optimal dividend strategies, we consider the case where the lower barrier is zero and the upper barrier is subject to control. In this case we generalized earlier results from the case of a reflected Brownian motion to the Markov modulated case.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur

Power identities for Lévy risk models under taxation and capital injections

In this paper we study a spectrally negative Lévy process which is refracted at its running maximum and at the same time reflected from below at a certain level. Such a process can for instance be used to model an insurance surplus process subject to tax payments according to a loss-carry-forward scheme together with the flow of minimal capital injections required to keep the surplus process non-negative. We characterize the first passage time over an arbitrary level and the cumulative amount of injected capital up to this time by their joint Laplace transform, and show that it satisfies a simple power relation to the case without refraction, generalizing results by Albrecher and Hipp (2007) and Albrecher, Renaud and Zhou (2008). It turns out that this identity can also be extended to a certain type of refraction from below. The net present value of tax collected before the cumulative injected capital exceeds a certain amount is determined, and a numerical illustration is provided