Variational problems involving unequal dimensional optimal transport (Q2186680)

The paper under review studies the minimisation of functionals of the form \[ \mathcal{J}(\mu,\nu) = \mathcal{T}_c(\mu,\nu) + \mathcal{F}(\nu) + \mathcal{G}(\mu), \] where $\mathcal{T}_c$ is the Monge-Kantorovich term, i.e., the optimal transport distance induced by a cost function $c$. Here $\mu$ and $\nu$ are probability measures supported in compact sets in $\mathbb{R}^m$ and $\mathbb{R}^n$, respectively. This paper is mainly concerned with the analysis of minimisers of $\mathcal{J}$ when $m>n$. Among other results, under various assumptions on $\mathcal{F}$ and $\mathcal{G}$, a nestedness condition has been identified, which ensures that the PDE on the lower dimensional space characterising minimisers is local and degenerate elliptic. Several sufficient conditions for nestedness under suitable assumptions have been proposed. Regularity of minimisers have been discussed. Convergence of the best reply scheme has been proved. Moreover, several important examples (\emph{e.g.}, the hedonic pricing problems) have been analysed.