Optimal Control Theory and Static Optimization in Economics

Book Description

Optimal control theory is a technique being used increasingly by academic economists to study problems involving optimal decisions in a multi-period framework. This book is designed to make the difficult subject of optimal control theory easily accessible to economists while at the same time maintaining rigor. Economic intuition is emphasized, examples and problem sets covering a wide range of applications in economics are provided, theorems are clearly stated and their proofs are carefully explained. The development of the text is gradual and fully integrated, beginning with the simple formulations and progressing to advanced topics. Optimal control theory is introduced directly, without recourse to the calculus of variations, and the connection with the latter and with dynamic programming is explained in a separate chapter. Also, the book draws the parallel between optimal control theory and static optimization. No previous knowledge of differential equations is required.

Customer Reviews:

marvellous.......1999-04-17

I am almoust sure that mathematicians and "orthodox" economists do not like this book but for graduates with a lousy background in and a certain degree of fear of mathematics it is a perfect tool to begin and get affected.

Book Description

The first piece of work helping an executive understand offshore technology outsourcing as more than low labor costs. The author masterfully outlines the offshore outsourcing decision process in the context of a voyage. The destination is reached by understanding the reason for the voyage, setting objectives for the voyage, establishing the proper voyage strategy and selecting the best voyage guide. This is a must read for every executive that knows that offshore technology outsourcing is not a question of "if" but "when."

The author uses easy to understand language that demonstrates knowledge of U.S. and Indian corporate norms and societal culture. Within a couple of hours, this guide can increase the comfort level of any executive struggling with how to reduce operating costs while preserving the revenue generating assets of the company.

This guide helps us understand how to accomplish the seemingly impossible--how to do more with less.

Customer Reviews:

Where's the Beef?.......2003-12-25

Overall very dissapointing. This book is essentially a 10-page white paper turned into a 98-page book with very large font. Of the 98 pages, 14 pages are the introduction describing what the book is and is not. Here is another clue - it consists of only 3 chapters.

In effect, the book offers some (by now well-known) observations on offshore outsourcing specific to India and specific to application software. Here are a few pointed out by this book: start with software maintenance work, use the savings from outsourcing to fund new initiatives, and the relationship with the outsource provider should be a partnership. The intent of the book is to be an executive's first guide to offshoring, but I seriously doubt most CIOs and CEOs will garner much of anything useful from these broad observations.

No case studies are presented. The author also introduces a new acronym "PCB" for primary cause of bungling!

On a more positive note, the author did well by explaining differnet psyches (idealist, pragmatist, and revisionist) and showed how offshore outsourcing would help in each situation. He also has a valid point regarding CMM Level 5 costing a large amount (perhaps too much?) due to its documentation and adminstrative requirements.

Book Description

Environmental Soil Physics is a completely updated and modified edition of the Daniel Hillels previous, successful books, Introduction to Soil Physics and Fundamentals of Soil Physics. Hillel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, one of the true leaders in the field of environmental sciences. The new version includes a chapter and problems on computational techniques, addresses current environmental concerns and trends.

* Updates and expands the scope of Hillel's prior works, Fundamentals of Soil Physics (1980)and Applications of Soil Physics (1980)
* Explores the wide range of interactions among the phases in the soil and the dynamic interconnections of the soil with the subterranean and atmospheric domains
* Draws attention to historical and contemporary issues concerning the human management of soil and water resources
* Directs readers toward solution of practical problems in terrestrial ecology, field-scale hydrology, agronomy, and civil engineering
* Incorporates contributions by leading scientists in the areas of spatial variability, soil remediation, and the inclusion of land-surface processes in global climate models

Customer Reviews:

a civil engineer /hydrologist.......2000-03-29

a great book for reference and detailed study . clear concepts and i believe a must buy for studying transport through soils

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Applications of Soil Physics
Daniel Hillel
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Applied Soil Physics: Soil Water and Temperature Applications

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Applied Soil Physics: Soil Water and Temperature Applications
R. J. Hanks
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 038797850X

Fundamentals of Discrete Element Methods for Rock Engineering: Theory and Applications, Volume 85 (Developments in Geotechnical Engineering) (Developments in Geotechnical Engineering)

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Fundamentals of Discrete Element Methods for Rock Engineering: Theory and Applications, Volume 85 (Developments in Geotechnical Engineering) (Developments in Geotechnical Engineering)
Lanru Jing , and Ove Stephansson
Manufacturer: Elsevier Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This book presents some fundamental concepts behind the basic theories and tools of discrete element methods (DEM), its historical development, and its wide scope of applications in geology, geophysics and rock engineering. Unlike almost all books available on the general subject of DEM, this book includes coverage of both explicit and implicit DEM approaches, namely the Distinct Element Methods and Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) for both rigid and deformable blocks and particle systems, and also the Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) approach for fluid flow and solute transport simulations. The latter is actually also a discrete approach of importance for rock mechanics and rock engineering. In addition, brief introductions to some alternative approaches are also provided, such as percolation theory and Cosserat micromechanics equivalence to particle systems, which often appear hand-in-hand with the DEM in the literature. Fundamentals of the particle mechanics approach using DEM for granular media is also presented.

· Presents the fundamental concepts of the discrete models for fractured rocks, including constitutive models of rock fractures and rock masses for stress, deformation and fluid flow
· Provides a comprehensive presentation on discrete element methods, including distinct elements, discontinuous deformation analysis, discrete fracture networks, particle mechanics and Cosserat representation of granular media
· Features constitutive models of rock fractures and fracture system characterization methods detaiing their significant impacts on the performance and uncertainty of the DEM models

The Influence of Sewage Sludge Application on Physical and Biological Properties of Soils

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The Influence of Sewage Sludge Application on Physical and Biological Properties of Soils

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9027715017

Introduction to Soil Physics with HYDRUS: Modeling and Applications

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Introduction to Soil Physics with HYDRUS: Modeling and Applications
David E. Radcliffe , and Jiri Simunek
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 142007380X

Physical Nonequilibrium in Soils: Modeling and Application

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Physical Nonequilibrium in Soils: Modeling and Application
H. Magdi Selim , and Liwang Ma
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Loose Leaf

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ASIN: 1575040492

Book Description

Physical Nonequilibrium in Soils provides cutting-edge knowledge on physical nonequilibrium phenomena in soils, offering unique insight into the complexity of our physical world. With 18 chapters comprising the book, topics cover · soil properties · fluid properties · mechanistic models · transfer function · geostatistics · fractal analysis · cellular-automation fluids · coupling of physical and chemical nonequilibrium models · confirming and quantifying physical nonequilibrium in soils · analytical solutions · field-scale research · environmental impacts.

Scaling in Soil Physics: Principles and Applications : Proceedings of a Symposium (S S S a Special Publication)

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Scaling in Soil Physics: Principles and Applications : Proceedings of a Symposium (S S S a Special Publication)
Daniel Hillel
Manufacturer: Soil Science Society of Amer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Soil Physics: Agriculture and Environmental Applications

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Soil Physics: Agriculture and Environmental Applications
H. Don Scott
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology

ASIN: 0813820871

Book Description

This textbook is concerned with the physical properties of soils and their relation to other soil properties. It discusses the transport of water, heat, solutes, and oxygen in soil and the impact of soil water on the growth and development of plants. For the student, the purposes of this book are to develop an understanding and appreciation for the physical properties of soils and their impact on agriculture, natural resources, and the environment; to explore how soil, plant, and engineering sciences use the knowledge of soil physical behaviour; and to develop mathematical and quantitative skills needed to solve applied problems in soil science.Each chapter includes definitions of essential terms and concepts with numerous examples and problems, which present opportunities for students to review and apply their knowledge to real-world cases.

Soil Stress-Strain Behavior: Measurement, Modeling and Analysis: A Collection of Papers of the Geotechnical Symposium in Rome, March 16-17, 2006 (Solid Mechanics and Its Applications)

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Soil Stress-Strain Behavior: Measurement, Modeling and Analysis: A Collection of Papers of the Geotechnical Symposium in Rome, March 16-17, 2006 (Solid Mechanics and Its Applications)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This book is an outgrowth of the proceedings for the Geotechnical Symposium in Roma, which was held on March 16 and 17, 2006 in Rome, Italy. The Symposium was organized to celebrate the 60th birthday of Prof. Tatsuoka as well as honoring his research achievement. The publications are focused on the recent developments in the stress-strain behavior of geomaterials, with an emphasis on laboratory measurements, soil constitutive modeling and behavior of soil structures (such as reinforced soils, piles and slopes). The latest advancement in the field, such as the rate effect and dynamic behavior of both clay and sand, behavior of modified soils and soil mixtures, and soil liquefaction are addressed. A special keynote paper by Prof. Tatsuoka is included with three other keynote papers (presented by Prof. Lo Presti, Prof. Di Benedetto, and Prof. Shibuya).

Amazon.com

Engaging, enlightening, and eloquent, Significant Others tells of our closest cousins and the scientists who study them. Author Craig B. Stanford is co-director of the Jane Goodall Research Center and knows as much as anyone about field research on the great ape. His prose combines a vivid, almost poetic descriptive sensibility with a refreshingly deadpan rationality too often missing from writings on endangered or threatened species. Covering a wide range of topics from tool use to evolutionary psychology to the controversy over language in nonhumans ("an intellectual turf game, poorly played"), Stanford still sticks unerringly to his thesis that field research of wild apes yields deep insights into human nature. His enthusiasm for the work shines in passages like this one:

In a mountain meadow dripping with dew, we're following a group of gorillas on their daily rounds. It's a raw day and the clouds are hanging above and beneath us. The gorillas climb a steep, fern-coated hill to a saddle, and we all tumble over the crest into a huge salad bowl of a valley that is greener than green.

As if to ensure that such words won't provoke a glut of fieldworker wannabes, he is careful to mention the long hours, boredom, and physical suffering he and his colleagues must endure to earn such rewards. The inevitable collision of science with politics is especially pronounced in war-ravaged central Africa, where most great-ape work is conducted, and Stanford speaks plainly about life during wartime and his subjects' too-real threat of extinction. Significant Others gives the reader a fresh respect for apes as apes--not stunted people, not lab-dwelling curiosities, but uniquely wonderful beings in their own right. Just like us. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

What the family connection between apes and humans really means.

Evolutionary scientists know that the line that divides humans from other animals has grown increasingly blurry, yet many other fields, especially in the social sciences, have not really absorbed this knowledge. At the same time, the knowledge that all humans are genetically and cognitively modern has left the apes as our only true "savages." Thus if we want to learn about human nature and how we came to be as we are, we must look to the apes. In this sweeping, fresh, controversial book, primatologist Craig Stanford does just that, giving us fascinating insights--and debunks many myths--about infanticide, mating practices, and the origins of human cognition.

Customer Reviews:

Well written popularized introduction.......2007-03-23

Stanford notes his thesis thus (page xi): "Apes and humans are cut from the same evolutionary cloth; all that fundamentally distinguishes us is posture, we being upright walkers and the apes quadrupeds . . . 'Significant Others' is about the continuum between humanity and the great apes. What was once a bold line dividing us has turned out to be fairly blurry. . . ."

In his Introduction, he sets out by addressing hat he sees as key myths about early humans (they were clumsy bipeds, their hunting defined key aspects of their evolution, etc.). From there, he explores a wide ranging set of issues. Part One examines "Love, Death, and Food." Part Two looks at "Culture, Language, and the Trouble with Evolutionary Psychology." He provocatively entitles Part Three "Islands in the Human Sea."

Chapter after chapter explores the continuum of ape and human. One important issue here is, as he notes (page 206): "The great apes and we form a pint-sized cluster of five species that are the tips of one of the great lineages in Earth's history."

All in all, a very readable and provocative volume.

Grim, Morbid, and Depressing.......2005-12-13

This writer is no Jared Diamond. I read about half the book and was ready to throw it across the room. Maybe I'm not ready to consider infanticide and his other grim subjects. Jared Diamond's books cover many subjects, but don't have you feel like you're in a garbage dumpster. This was a morbid book in the 1st half. Can't comment on the second.

I just don't feel like wallowing in the gristly subjects of Stanford.

Significant Others: The Ape-Human Continuum and the Quest for Human Nature.......2005-09-21

While the author has many axes to grind-not all related to the subject, the book is worth reading.

Sounds Familiar.......2004-07-28

I have not read this book, but judging from other reviews as well as the editor notes, it sounds like the author is simply repeating the ideas of researcher Desmond Morris, who has been around for decades. If you liked this book, you would love The Human Animal and others by Desmond Morris.

Significant Others review.......2003-05-12

Craig Stanford has written a book that continues to inform the public of just how similar we are to the primates by attempting to show the reader that the differences between us are actually very minute. Through data and analysis Stanford points out how the behaviors of primates can be applied to our own human nature, which supports his thesis that "to understand human nature, you must understand the apes." (p.xviii). Stanford self describes Significant Others as a "field guide to the current state of our understanding of both human and ape culture..." (p. xviii). Through the descriptions of social interactions, tool usage, language, and culture Stanford provides a strong case in support of his thesis.
Starting right from the beginning in his introduction, Stanford uses data and research theory to support his thesis and to refute the alternatives. He is not afraid to discuss behaviors that are of questionable regard. He delves into the subject of infanticide with similar gusto as he does in the chapter on language. Stanford's bottom line is the same throughout that we can use the studies of the great apes to explain our human nature and why problem behaviors like human infanticide persist today.
Overall Significant Others is a good read. Stanford does an exceptional job of providing research that supports the notion that many of our human behaviors and traits can be explained by similar behaviors studied in the great apes. Although this was not pointed out until the end of the book by supporting his thesis Stanford also was providing strong evidence for the importance of conserving and protecting the great apes. Stanford was not afraid to indulge into his own opinions when he felt the need and this added a personal touch to the reading that provided interest to sometimes dry research findings. He also covered highly debatable information well by giving equal consideration to both sides of the picture, even though it was often evident what side of the debate he was on. I would recommend Significant Others to those that enjoyed reading Roger Fout's Next of Kin and want to further their knowledge of great ape behavior and how it might be related to human nature.

Significant Others : The Ape-Human Continuum & the Quest for Human Nature

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Significant Others : The Ape-Human Continuum & the Quest for Human Nature
Craig B. Stanford
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSBIFM

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