We consider the following maximization problem with log utility function
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subject to
and
for simplicity.
There is no expectation but we have two kinds of states alternately. That is
for
t=0,2,4,6,. . .
and
for
t=1,3,5,7,. . .
We can construct the following two Bellman equations
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and
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where value functions appear alternately.
We just guess
and ![]()
That is
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Now we get FOC w.r.t.
respectively. They are
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(*)
and
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(**)
Plugging (*) and (**) into Bellman equation at optimum, we get
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They are
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Comparing coefficients in each kind, we get
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So
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Similarly
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The rest is
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and
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So
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We have solved out and we can say that the guess is right.
From (*) and (**), we have
and