Abstract. In earlier proposals, the robust counterpart of conic optimization problems exhibits a lateral increase in complexity, i.e., robust linear programming problems (LPs) become second order cone problems (SOCPs), robust SOCPs become semidefinite programming problems (SDPs), and robust SDPs become NP-hard. We propose a relaxed robust counterpart for general conic optimization problems that (a) preserves the computational tractability of the nominal problem; specifically the robust conic optimization problem retains its original structure, i.e., robust LPs remain LPs, robust SOCPs remain SOCPs and robust SDPs remain SDPs, and (b) allows us to provide a guarantee on the probability that the robust solution is feasible when the uncertain coefficients obey independent and identically distributed normal distributions. Key words. Robust Optimization – Conic Optimization – Stochastic Optimization 1.

In this paper, we introduce an approach for constructing uncertainty sets for robust optimization using new deviation measures for bounded random variables known as the forward and backward de-viations. These deviation measures capture distributional asymmetry and lead to better approxima-tions of chance constraints. We also propose a tractable robust optimization approach for obtaining robust solutions to a class of stochastic linear optimization problems where the risk of infeasibility can be tolerated as a tradeoff to improve upon the objective value. An attractive feature of the framework is the computational scalability to multiperiod models. We show an application of the framework for solving a project management problem with uncertain activity completion time.

Abstract. In this paper, we propose a new methodology for handling optimization problems with uncertain data. With the usual Robust Optimization paradigm, one looks for the decisions ensuring a required performance for all realizations of the data from a given bounded uncertainty set, whereas with the proposed approach, we require also a controlled deterioration in performance when the data is outside the uncertainty set. The extension of Robust Optimization methodology developed in this paper opens up new possibilities to solve efficiently multi-stage finite-horizon uncertain optimization problems, in particular, to analyze and to synthesize linear controllers for discrete time dynamical systems. 1.

We present a distribution-free model of incomplete-information games, both with and without private information, in which the players use a robust optimization approach to contend with payoff uncertainty. Our “robust game” model relaxes the assumptions of Harsanyi’s Bayesian game model, and provides an alternative distribution-free equilibrium concept, which we call “robust-optimization equilibrium, ” to that of the ex post equilibrium. We prove that the robust-optimization equilibria of an incomplete-information game subsume the ex post equilibria of the game and are, unlike the latter, guaranteed to exist when the game is finite and has bounded payoff uncertainty set. For arbitrary robust finite games with bounded polyhedral payoff uncertainty sets, we show that we can compute a robust-optimization equilibrium by methods analogous to those for identifying a Nash equilibrium of a finite game with complete information. In addition, we present computational results.

In this paper we survey the primary research, both theoretical and applied, in the field of Robust Optimization (RO). Our focus will be on the computational attractiveness of RO approaches, as well as the modeling power and broad applicability of the methodology. In addition to surveying the most prominent theoretical results of RO over the past decade, we will also present some recent results linking RO to adaptable models for multi-stage decision-making problems. Finally, we will highlight successful applications of RO across a wide spectrum of domains, including, but not limited to, finance, statistics, learning, and engineering.

Abstract Robust Optimization is a rapidly developing methodology for handling optimization problems affected by non-stochastic “uncertain-butbounded” data perturbations. In this paper, we overview several selected topics in this popular area, specifically, (1) recent extensions of the basic concept of robust counterpart of an optimization problem with uncertain data, (2) tractability of robust counterparts, (3) links between RO and traditional chance constrained settings of problems with stochastic data, and (4) a novel generic application of the RO methodology in Robust Linear Control. Keywords optimization under uncertainty · robust optimization · convex programming · chance constraints · robust linear control

Traditional models of decision-making under uncertainty assume perfect information, i.e., ac-curate values for the system parameters and specific probability distributions for the random variables. However, such precise knowledge is rarely available in practice, and a strategy based on erroneous inputs might be infeasible or exhibit poor performance when implemented. The purpose of this tutorial is to present a mathematical framework that is well-suited to the limited information available in real-life problems and captures the decision-maker’s attitude towards uncertainty; the proposed approach builds upon recent developments in robust and data-driven optimization. In robust optimization, random variables are modeled as uncertain parameters be-longing to a convex uncertainty set and the decision-maker protects the system against the worst case within that set. Data-driven optimization uses observations of the random variables as direct inputs to the mathematical programming problems. The first part of the tutorial describes the robust optimization paradigm in detail in single-stage and multi-stage problems. In the second part, we address the issue of constructing uncertainty sets using historical realizations of the random variables and investigate the connection between convex sets, in particular polyhedra, and a specific class of risk measures.

We propose a unified theory that links uncertainty sets in robust optimization to risk measures in portfolio optimization. We illustrate the correspondence between uncertainty sets and some popular risk measures in finance, and show how robust optimization can be used to generalize the concepts of these measures. We also show that by using properly defined uncertainty sets in robust optimization models, one can in fact construct coherent risk measures. Our approach to creating coherent risk measures is easy to apply in practice, and computational experiments suggest that it may lead to superior portfolio performance. Our results have implications for efficient portfolio optimization under different measures of risk.

I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. I authorize the University of Waterloo to lend this thesis to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research.

Abstract. In financial markets high levels of risk are associated with large returns as well as large losses, whereas with lower levels of risk, the potential for either return or loss is small. Therefore, risk management is fundamentally concerned with finding an optimal tradeoff between risk and return matching an investor’s risk tolerance. Managing risk is studied mostly in a financial context; nevertheless, it is certainly relevant in any area with a significant source of uncertainty. The mean-risk tradeoff is well-studied for problems with a convex feasible set. However, this is not the case in the discrete setting, even though, in practice, portfolios are often restricted to discrete choices. In this paper we study mean-risk minimization for problems with discrete decision variables. In particular, we consider discrete optimization problems with a submodular mean-risk minimization objective. We show the connection between extended polymatroids and the convex lower envelope of this mean-risk objective. For 0-1 problems a complete linear characterization of the convex lower envelope is given. For mixed 0-1 problems we derive an exponential class of conic quadratic inequalities that are separable with the greedy algorithm.