Optimal Control of Pollution Accumulation with Long-Run Average Welfare

This paper considers the problem of pollution accumulation in order to maximize the long-run average welfare functional in environmental economics. We approach the problem by solving the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation in the classical sense, via the viscosity solution method. The optimal policy is shown to exist in a feedback from, and the maximum value is also obtained independently of the initial level of pollution. An equilibrium of the optimal stock of pollution is discussed. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003