Decision Making under Costly Sequential Information Acquisition: the Paradigm of Reversible and Irreversible Decisions

Abstract: Decision making in modern stochastic systems, including e-commerce platforms, financial markets, and healthcare systems, has evolved into a multifaceted process that involves information acquisition and adaptive information sources. This paper initiates a study on this integrated process, where these elements are not only fundamental but also interact in a complex and dynamically intertwined manner. We introduce a relatively simple model, which, however, captures the novel elements we consider. Specifically, a decision maker (DM) can choose between an established product $A$ with a known value and a new product $B$ with an unknown value. The DM can observe signals about the unknown value of product $B$ and can also opt to exchange it for product $A$ if $B$ is initially chosen. Mathematically, the model gives rise to a sequential optimal stopping problem with two different informational regimes (before and after buying product $B$), differentiated by the initial, coarser signal and the subsequent, finer one. We analyze the underlying problems using predominantly viscosity solution techniques, differing from the existing literature on information acquisition which is based on traditional optimal stopping techniques. Additionally, our modeling approach offers a novel framework for developing more complex interactions among decisions, information sources, and information costs through a sequence of nested obstacles.