Multiple Criteria Analysis for Agricultural Decisions, Second Edition (Volume 11) (Developments in Agricultural Economics, Volume 11)

This book presents the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) paradigm for modelling agricultural decision-making in three parts. The first part, comprising two chapters, is philosophical in nature and deals with the concepts that define the underlying structure of the MCDM paradigm. The second part is the largest part consisting of five chapters, each of which presents the logic of a specific MCDM technique, and demonstrates how it can be used to model a particular decision problem. In the final part, some selected applications of the MCDM techniques to agricultural problems are presented and thus reinforce the development of an understanding of the MCDM paradigm. The book has been designed for use at different levels: as a textbook for final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses in modelling for decision-making; as a manual for researchers and practising modellers; and, as general reference on the application of MCDM techniques. Readers with basic appreciation of algebra and linear programming can easily follow the contents of this book. Read more... Content: Preface Pages xi-xii Acknowledgements Pages xiii-xiv Carlos Romero, Tahir Rehman Chapter one Main features of the multiple criteria decision-making paradigm Original Research Article Pages 3-14 Chapter two Some basic concepts Original Research Article Pages 15-20 Chapter three Goal programming Original Research Article Pages 23-46 Chapter four Multiobjective programming Original Research Article Pages 47-61 Chapter five Compromise programming Original Research Article Pages 63-78 Chapter six The interactive multiple criteria decision-making approach Original Research Article Pages 79-102 Chapter seven Risk and uncertainty and the multiple criteria decision-making techniques Original Research Article Pages 103-119 Chapter eight A compromise programming model for the agrarian reform programme in Andalusia, Spain Original Research Article Pages 123-134 Chapter nine Livestock ration formulation and multiple criteria decision-making techniques Original Research Article Pages 135-147 Chapter ten Livestock ration formulation via goal programming with penalty functions Original Research Article Pages 149-161 Chapter eleven optimum fertiliser use via goal programming with penalty functions Original Research Article Pages 163-168 References Pages 169-184 Index Pages 185-186 This book presents the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) paradigm for modelling agricultural decision-making in three parts. The first part, comprising two chapters, is philosophical in nature and deals with the concepts that define the underlying structure of the MCDM paradigm. The second part is the largest part consisting of five chapters, each of which presents the logic of a specific MCDM technique, and demonstrates how it can be used to model a particular decision problem. In the final part, some selected applications of the MCDM techniques to agricultural problems are presented and thus reinforce the development of an understanding of the MCDM paradigm.

The book has been designed for use at different levels: as a textbook for final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses in modelling for decision-making; as a manual for researchers and practising modellers; and, as general reference on the application of MCDM techniques. Readers with basic appreciation of algebra and linear programming can easily follow the contents of this book.