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An Investigation of the Relationship Between Constraint Omission and Risk Aversion in Firm Risk Programming Models

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2016

Wesley N. Musser
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oregon State University
Bruce A. McCarl
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A & M University
G. Scott Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia

Abstract

A model with omitted resource constraints is suggested as an alternative to a risk aversion model for explaining economic behavior. This paper uses two standard mathematical programming models to further explore this issue. One model is a standard profit maximization linear programming model and the other is a risk averse quadratic programming model with part of the constraints deleted. Theoretical investigation of these models demonstrates that risk aversion can substitute for omitted resource constraints. A small empirical model is then solved under both formulations. With resource constraints deleted, positive risk aversion is necessary to obtain a similar enterprise organization as under profit maximization with complete constraints. These two solutions are then interpreted with the theoretical optimality conditions.

Type
Submitted Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1986

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