Working Papers

These papers are working drafts of research which often appear in final form in academic journals. The published versions may differ from the working versions provided here.

SSRN Research Paper Series

The Social Science Research Network’s Research Paper Series includes working papers produced by Stanford GSB the Rock Center.

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An Evaluation of Alternative Strategies for Expanding the Number of Black-Owned Businesses

David L. Bradford
1974

Alternative strategies for Black economic development have been debated with great vigor and little rigor. The qualitative, nonanalytic nature of the existing Black economic development literature partially stems from the lack of comprehensive…

An Informal Look at the Principle of Optimality

Evan L. Porteus
1974

The Principle of Optimality is examined informally (bereft of notation) in the context of discounted Markov decision processes. The optimality equations and optimality criterion are introduced with discounted Markov decision processes. The…

Attitude as Communication Response

Michael L. Ray
1974

Abstract not available.

Beyond the Analytic Manager

Harold Leavitt
1974

Abstract not available.

Bounds and Transformations for Finite Markov Decision Chains

Evan L. Porteus
1974

New improved bounds on the optimal return function in finite state and action, infinite horizon, discounted stationary Markov decision chains are developed. They require solving a single constraint, bounded variable linear program, which can be…

Closed-End Investment Companies in the United States: Risk and Return

William F. Sharpe, Howard B. Sosin
1974

Abstract not available.

Corporate Liquidity and Bankruptcy Costs

James C. Van Horne (1935–2025)
1974

In this paper, the valuation of corporate liquidity is analyzed under conditions of perfect and complete capital markets as well as under conditions where bankruptcy costs exist. Heretofore, the valuation of liquidity has not been examined in a…

Determining Cost vs. Time Pareto-Optimal Frontiers in Multi-Modal Transportation Problems

V. “Seenu” Srinivasan, G. L. Thompson
1974

This paper provides a framework for choosing modes of transportation (Rail, Highway, Air, etc.) by taking into account the conflicting objectives of minimizing total transportation costs and average shipment times. An efficient algorithm using…

Dividend, Investment And Financing Decisions: Empirical Evidence On French Firms

Jack McDonald, Bertrand Jacquillat, Maurice Nussenbaum
1974

Abstract not available.

A Dynamic Programming Approach to the Abandonment Decision

Charles Bonini
1974

The decision about when to abandon a capital investment is formulated as a dynamic programming problem under conditions of both certain and probabilistic cash flows. One period autocorrelation is assumed in the case of uncertain cash flows. A…

Evaluation of Project Risk in Capital Investments with Abandonment Options

Charles Bonini
1974

This paper develops a formula for calculating the variance of the present value of cash flows for capital investment projects that have an option to abandon the project in each period. The development of the optimal abandonment strategy can be…

External Trade and Internal Development

Gerald M. Meier
1974

Abstract not available.

Four Types of Middle Class Communes

David L. Bradford, Simon Klevansky
1974

Abstract not available.

A Framework For Analysis Of Coordination Mechanisms In Decentralized Organizations

James R. Freeland, Norman R. Baker
1974

This paper has three purposes: (1) to present a framework for classifying and analyzing conceptual models of the resource allocation process in a decentralized organization, (2) to explain some different coordination strategies, and (3) to show…

Gold Mining Stocks: An Economic Analysis, 1968-1974

Jack McDonald, Bruno Solnik
1974

Abstract not available.

Information Requirements for Health Maintenance Organizations

John C. Hershey, John R. Moore, Jr., R. Dixon Speas, Jr.
1974

Health Maintenance Organizations have been proposed as a major element in the restructuring of the health care delivery system to help contain costs and bring about improved distribution of services. The structure and responsibilities of these…

Information Systems for Experimental Social Programs -- A Health Services Example

John R. Moore, Jr., John C. Hershey
1974

The organizational forms and data requirements of experimental social programs contribute to the necessity for the development of new general purpose file management and data processing systems. The organizational aspects of social research…