A Practical Algorithm for Multiple-Phase Control Systems in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics
By: Doole, Graeme J.
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Citation
Doole, Graeme J., A Practical Algorithm for Multiple-Phase Control Systems in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 34, Issue 1, April 2009, Pages 109-129
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Abstract
Many important problems in agricultural and natural resource economics concern an intertemporal choice between alternate dynamic systems. This significance has motivated a theoretical literature generalizing the necessary conditions of Optimal Control Theory to multiple-phase problems. However, gaining detailed insight into their practical management is difficult because general numerical solution methods are not available. This paper resolves this deficiency through the development of a flexible and efficient computational algorithm based on a set of necessary conditions derived for finite-time, multiple-phase systems. Its effectiveness is demonstrated in an application to a nontrivial crop rotation problem.