Reinforcement Learning with Quasi-Hyperbolic Discounting

Eshwar S R, Nibedita Roy, Gugan Thoppe

Abstract: Reinforcement learning has traditionally been studied with exponential discounting or the average reward setup, mainly due to their mathematical tractability. However, such frameworks fall short of accurately capturing human behavior, which has a bias towards immediate gratification. Quasi-Hyperbolic (QH) discounting is a simple alternative for modeling this bias. Unlike in traditional discounting, though, the optimal QH-policy, starting from some time $t_1,$ can be different to the one starting from $t_2.$ Hence, the future self of an agent, if it is naive or impatient, can deviate from the policy that is optimal at the start, leading to sub-optimal overall returns. To prevent this behavior, an alternative is to work with a policy anchored in a Markov Perfect Equilibrium (MPE). In this work, we propose the first model-free algorithm for finding an MPE. Using a brief two-timescale analysis, we provide evidence that our algorithm converges to invariant sets of a suitable Differential Inclusion (DI). We also show that the QH Q-value function of any MPE would be an invariant set of our identified DI. Finally, we validate our claims numerically for the standard inventory system with stochastic demands. We believe our work significantly advances the practical application of reinforcement learning.

Format: Short format (up to 4 pages + refs, appendix)

Publication Status: Yes

Submission Number: 82