Some estimates for the planning problem with potential

In this paper, we study a priori estimates for a first-order mean-field planning problem with a potential. In the theory of mean-field games (MFGs), a priori estimates play a crucial role to prove the existence of classical solutions. In particular, uniform bounds for the density of players’ distribution and its inverse are of utmost importance. Here, we investigate a priori bounds for those quantities for a planning problem with a non-vanishing potential. The presence of a potential raises non-trivial difficulties, which we overcome by exploring a displacement-convexity property for the mean-field planning problem with a potential together with Moser’s iteration method. We show that if the potential satisfies a certain smallness condition, then a displacement-convexity property holds. This property enables $$L^q$$ bounds for the density. In the one-dimensional case, the displacement-convexity property also gives $$L^q$$ bounds for the inverse of the density. Finally, using these $$L^q$$ estimates and Moser’s iteration method, we obtain $$L^\infty $$ estimates for the density of the distribution of the players and its inverse. We conclude with an application of our estimates to prove existence and uniqueness of solutions for a particular first-order mean-field planning problem with a potential.