Discontinuous initial value problems for functional differential-algebraic equations of mixed type (Q444918)

This paper deals with a class of initial value problems concerning functional differential-algebraic equations of mixed type, which includes the prototypes \[ Tx'(\xi)=x(\xi)+\int\limits_{-1}^{1} x(\xi+\sigma)d\sigma+f(x(\xi)), \enskip \xi\geq 0\;\text{ and }\;x(\tau)=\phi(\tau), \enskip -1\leq \tau\leq 0, \] where \(T\) is an \(n\times n\) diagonal matrix that is allowed to be either singular or invertible. In this particular case, the authors are interested in solutions \(x\) continuous for \(\xi >0\) but which are allowed to have a discontinuity at \(\xi =0\). More precisely, the authors determine the set of initial conditions such that there is a bounded solution \(x\) with \(x(t)\to \infty\) as \(t\to \infty\) and, also, whether this solution is unique. The general model considered in the paper concerns a nonlinear functional differential-algebraic equation of mixed type and the authors are interested in solutions which admit a unique jump discontinuity at time zero. More especially, the question whether unstable equilibria can be stabilized by appropriately choosing the size of the jump discontinuity is discussed. Among others, the considered problem describes the interaction between inflation and interest rates in a closed economy under the supervision of a central bank.