In dynamic investment planning the time of investment is a significant issue. By simplifying the mathematical notation, the author of this book seeks to make control theory a practical tool that can be applied to the problem of timing. The book, first published in 1977, begins with an introduction to one important approach to control theory – dynamic programming. Then some of the relevant literature that deals with investment decision-making is reviewed. This is followed by a mathematically formulated planning model. The computational aspects of the model are discussed and a complete computer flow chart is given. The second part of the book gives a thorough application of the theory by means of a detailed case study – the planning of a steel industry. The case study illustrates how a fairly abstract dynamic analysis can be effectively integrated with practical decision-making concerns. This book is ideal for students of economics and business.
