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Article
Optimizing the Capital Rationing Decision with Uncertain Returns
The Engineering Economist (2016)
  • Liuqing Mai, University of Missouri–St. Louis
  • Haitao Li, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Abstract
In this paper, we develop a new optimization model for capital rationing with uncertain project returns. Our model maximizes the probability of meeting a pre-defined target return by selecting a feasible set of projects subject to budget constraints in multiple time periods. We employ a mixed-integer nonlinear algorithm recently developed in the optimization field to solve the resulting non-convex optimization problem to optimality. Our model and solution methods are tested and validated through a comprehensive computational experiment. Several managerial insights are obtained on the impact of available budget and target return on the optimal solutions. Notably, we have found that increasing target return may not necessarily result in increase of optimal total expected return of the selected projects. Our model and solution method offers a computationally tractable approach to quantify the tradeoff between project returned and risk, and optimize capital rationing decisions under uncertainty.
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 2, 2016
DOI
10.2139/ssrn.2519266
Citation Information
Liuqing Mai and Haitao Li. "Optimizing the Capital Rationing Decision with Uncertain Returns" The Engineering Economist Vol. 61 Iss. 2 (2016) p. 128 - 143
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/liuqing-mai/5/