The goal of this study is to test the accuracy of
various mutual fund timing and selectivity models under a
range of portfolio managerial skills and varying market
conditions. Portfolio returns in a variety of skill
environments are generated using a simulation procedure. The
generated portfolio returns are based on...
In this dissertation, we study two risk models. First, we consider the dual risk process which models the surplus of a company that incurs expenses at a constant rate and earns random positive gains at random times. When the surplus is invested in a risky asset following a geometric Brownian...
In certain cases in system modeling, parameter search problems
are complicated by the availability of scanty and corrupt physical
system data and a large number of model parameters. An algorithm
using man-machine interaction is presented to attack this type
of parameter search problem with the objective of efficiency in the...
Biomechanical models have been used in designing human work environments to evaluate potential risks to workers before a work environment is constructed. In order for work environments to be modeled correctly, most biomechanical models require as input, an accurate body posture of the worker. This information can be obtained by,...
This dissertation consists of three papers on land use economics and policies. The first two papers focus primarily on local land use policies and urban development. The third paper addresses the question how environmental amenities affect households' residential choices in a metropolitan area. In the first paper, an option value...
Many engineering devices and propulsion systems suffer from undesirable effects of cavitation; such as degradation in the efficiency of pumps and turbines, generation of noise and vibration on ship propeller, increased drag and erosion of propeller blade, etc.
In spite of decades of research on this problem, detailed study of...
A model is presented which predicts the net present
value of a stand level multi-entry harvest plan. The model
accounts for potential volume losses due to harvest-related soil compaction. The goal of this project was to answer five economic questions about the issue of soil compaction in forestry. The five...