ABSTRACT
Mathematical programming is a formal procedure for optimizing an objective function subject to numerous constraints such as those imposed by scarce resources. The technique is a logically consistent method for evaluating alternative economic policies. Mathematical programming can be applied to compute the “optimal” allocation of available resources among competing uses for any level of economic unit. For example, the technique can be used to evaluate the impacts of alternative economic policies on selected variables for a country, sector, region, firm, or family farm.
