Charles B. Moss - Mathematical Programming for Economic Analysis
Purpose: This course is intended to introduce the student to optimization
techniques and modeling in agricultural economics. Completion of the course should enable
the student to solve numerical optimization problems with and without computer support.
Further, the student will be introduced to how these optimization models have been used in
agricultural economics.
Text - Required:
- Taha, Handy A. Operations Research: An Introduction Fourth edition (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.).
Text - Suggested:
- Dorfman, Robert, Paul A. Samuelson, and Robert M. Solow. Linear Programming and Economic Analysis (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1987).
- Ecker, Joseph G. and Michael Kupferschmid. Introduction to Operations Research (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1988).
Grading: Grades will be assigned based on the following weights:
| Activity | Points | Percentage |
| Test 2*100 | 200 | 50% |
| Homework | 100 | 25% |
| Research Proposal | 100 | 25% |
| Total | 400 | 100% |
The research proposal is not intended to be a completed research product. Instead, I would like the student to propose an interesting problem which could be solved using of the techniques from this course.
Course Outline
- Linear Programming
- Solution to the Basic Problem: Taha Chapters 2 and 3.
- Lecture I: Overview of Mathematical Programming: pdf Notes.
- Lecture II: A Basic Graphical Approach to Mathematical Programming: pdf Notes.
- Lecture III: Graphical Approach with Sensitivity: pdf Notes.
- Lecture IV: Basic Simplex: pdf Notes.
- Canonical Forms of Linear Systems: pdf Notes.
- Lecture V: Equalities and Greater than or Equal to Constraints: Part I pdf Notes
- Duality and Sensitivity: Taha Chapter 4.
- Transportation Models: Taha Chapter 5.
- Advanced Topics in Linear Programming: Taha Chapter 7.
- Integer Programming: Taha Chapter 8.
- Dynamic Programming: Taha Chapter 9.
- Nonlinear Programming: Taha Chapter 18.
- Computer Algorithms for Solving Mathematical Programming Problems
- Applications in Agricultural Economics.
- Agribusiness/Farm Planning Models.
- Food and Diet Models.
- Farm Firm Development Models.
- Interregional Trade and Spatial Equilibrium Models.
- Natural Resource Models.
- Estimation Models.
- Models of Risk.
