Time-inconsistent multistage stochastic programs: martingale bounds

Abstract. It is well known that multistage programs, which maximize expectation or expected utility, allow a dynamic programming formulation, and that other objectives destroy the dynamic programming character of the problem. This paper considers a risk measure at the final stage of a multistage stochastic program. Although these problems are not time consistent, it is … Read more

Robust inversion, dimensionality reduction, and randomized sampling

We consider a class of inverse problems in which the forward model is the solution operator to linear ODEs or PDEs. This class admits several dimensionality-reduction techniques based on data averaging or sampling, which are especially useful for large-scale problems. We survey these approaches and their connection to stochastic optimization. The data-averaging approach is only … Read more

Robustifying Convex Risk Measures: A Non-Parametric Approach

We introduce a framework for robustifying portfolio selection problems with respect to ambiguity in the distribution of the random asset losses. In particular, we are interested in convex, version independent risk measures. To robustify these risk measures, we use an ambiguity set which is defined as a neighborhood around a reference probability measure which represents … Read more

Sample Size Selection in Optimization Methods for Machine Learning

This paper presents a methodology for using varying sample sizes in batch-type optimization methods for large scale machine learning problems. The first part of the paper deals with the delicate issue of dynamic sample selection in the evaluation of the function and gradient. We propose a criterion for increasing the sample size based on variance … Read more

Higher-Order Confidence Intervals for Stochastic Programming using Bootstrapping

We study the problem of constructing confidence intervals for the optimal value of a stochastic programming problem by using bootstrapping. Bootstrapping is a resampling method used in the statistical inference of unknown parameters for which only a small number of samples can be obtained. One such parameter is the optimal value of a stochastic optimization … Read more

Branch-and-cut Approaches for Chance-constrained Formulations of Reliable Network Design Problems

We study solution approaches for the design of reliably connected networks. Speci fically, given a network with arcs that may fail at random, the goal is to select a minimum cost subset of arcs such the probability that a connectivity requirement is satis ed is at least 1-\epsilon, where \epsilon is a risk tolerance. We consider two … Read more

Stochastic approaches for solving Rapid Transit Network Design models with random demand

We address rapid transit network design problems characterized by uncertainty in the input data. Network design has a determinant impact on the future e ective- ness of the system. Design decisions are made with a great degree of uncertainty about the conditions under which the system will be required to operate. The de- mand is one … Read more

A copula-based heuristic for scenario generation

This paper presents a new heuristic for generating scenarios for two-stage stochastic programs. The method uses copulas to describe the dependence between the marginal distributions, instead of the more common correlations. The heuristic is then tested on a simple portfolio-selection model, and compared to two other scenario-generation methods. Citation Published in Computational Management Science, 11 … Read more

Exploiting structure of autoregressive processes in risk-averse multistage stochastic linear programs

We consider a multivariate interstage dependent stochastic process whose components follow a generalized autoregressive model with time varying order. At a given time step, we give some recursive formulae linking future values of the process with past values and noises. We then consider multistage stochastic linear programs with uncertain polyhedral sets depending affinely on such … Read more

On Kusuoka representation of law invariant risk measures

In this paper we discuss representations of law invariant coherent risk measures in a form of integrals of the Average Value-at-Risk measures. We show that such integral representation exists iff the dual set of the considered risk measure is generated by one of its elements, and this representation is uniquely defined. On the other hand, … Read more