Non-constant discounting in finite horizon: The free terminal time case

This paper derives the HJB (Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman) equation for sophisticated agents in a finite horizon dynamic optimization problem with non-constant discounting in a continuous setting, by using a dynamic programming approach. Special attention is paid to the case of free terminal time. Strotz's model (a cake-eating problem of a non-renewable resource with non-constant discounting) is revisited. A consumption-saving model is used to illustrate the results in the free terminal time case.