Abstract:
The classical Fatou lemma states that the lower limit of a sequence of
integrals of functions is greater than or equal to the integral of the lower
limit. It is known that Fatou's lemma for a sequence of weakly converging
measures states a weaker inequality because the integral of the lower limit
is replaced with the integral of the lower limit in two parameters, where the
second parameter is the argument of the functions. In the present paper, we
provide sufficient conditions when Fatou's lemma holds in its classical form
for a sequence of weakly converging measures. The functions can take both
positive and negative values. Similar results for sequences of setwise
converging measures are also proved. We also put forward analogies of
Lebesgue's and the monotone convergence theorems for sequences of weakly and
setwise converging measures. The results obtained are used to prove broad
sufficient conditions for the validity of optimality equations for
average-cost Markov decision processes.