Optimality conditions for bilevel programming problems

Multi-parametric programming based algorithms for the global solution of bi-level mixed-integer linear and quadratic programming problems

We consider the bilevel programming problem and its optimal value and KKT one level reformulations. The two reformulations are studied in a unified manner and compared in terms of optimal solutions, constraint qualifications and optimality conditions. We also show that any bilevel programming problem where the lower level problem is linear with respect to the lower level variable, is partially calm without any restrictive assumption. Finally, we consider the bilevel demand adjustment problem in transportation, and show how KKT type optimality conditions can be obtained under the partial calmness, using the differential calculus of Mordukhovich.

A global optimization algorithm for solving the bi-level linear fractional programming problem

The problem to find a best solution within the set of optimal solutions of a convex optimization problem is modeled as a bilevel programming problem. It is shown that regularity conditions like Slater’s constraint qualification are never satisfied for this problem. If the lower-level problem is replaced with its (necessary and sufficient) optimality conditions, it is possible to derive a necessary optimality condition for the resulting problem. An example is used to show that this condition in not sufficient even if the initial problem is a convex one. If the lower-level problem is replaced using its optimal value, it is possible to obtain an optimality condition that is both necessary and sufficient in the convex case.

In this paper, we propose an alternate modified solution procedure based on fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approach for solving bi-level multiobjective linear fractional programming problems (BL-MOLFPPs) with some major modifications in the algorithm suggested by Abo-Sinna and Baky (2010). The proposed modified technique is simpler and requires less computational works than that of earlier technique. In the formulation of FGP models, each objective function (at both the levels - leader's level and follower's level) as well as control variables (of leader's level) are transformed into fuzzy goals with modified membership functions. Then FGP approach is used for achieving the highest degree of each of membership goals. To avoid decision deadlock situations and difficulties associated with bi-level programming problems, solution preferences by decision makers (at leader's and follower's levels) are not taken into account in proposed algorithm. A comparative analysis is also carried out with numerical example in order to show efficiency of proposed algorithm over earlier technique.

This article considers bilevel linear programming problems where the coefficients of the objective functions and the constraints in the problem are given as fuzzy parameters. Stackelberg problems and Stackelberg solutions under fuzziness have not been fully discussed so far. New Stackelberg solution concepts under fuzziness, called possibilistic Stackelberg solutions , are proposed by incorporating possibility theory into Stackelberg solutions in non-fuzzy environments. This paper shows some theoretical properties and theorems on the formulated fuzzy bilevel programming problems. It is shown that the proposed possibilistic Stackelberg solutions are obtained by using linear or nonlinear programming techniques. The effectiveness of the proposed models is demonstrated by numerical experiments using transportation problems where the upper-level decision maker is a buyer and the lower-level one is a supplier.

Multilevel optimization problems often arise in various applications (in economics, ecology, power engineering and other areas) when modeling complex systems with a hierarchical structure associated with independent actions of subsystems. The difficulty of analyzing such complex systems requires first of all the study of bilevel models, the management of which would be an integral part of the analysis of more complex systems. In solving bilevel programming problems, an important role is played by the property of partial calmness, the presence of which allows us to reduce the bilevel problem to the classical nonlinear programming problem with a nonsmooth objective function. It is known that linear bilevel programming problems are partially stable. The proof of this property for more complex problems meets difficulties. In particular, our article shows the inaccuracy of some results in this area. The goal of the paper is to obtain some new results in the partial calmness of bilevel programming. In particular, new sufficient conditions for bilevel problems are proved. The results are obtained on the base of Lipschitz-like properties for multivalued mappings. In the paper we propose new sufficient conditions for partial calmness which are based on some modification of the known constraint qualification RCPLD which have been proposed by the researches Andreani, Haeser, Schuverdt and Silva.

Multi-objective linear bi-level multi-follower programming problem (MOBLMFPP) is a special case of two level hierarchical programming problems in which the second level hierarchy includes multiple followers. This paper presents an alternate method based on fuzzy goal programming approach for the solution of multi-objective linear bi-level multi-follower programming (MOLBMFP) problem in which there is no sharing of information among followers. In the proposed FGP model formulation, each of objective functions of each level (leader and follower's level of MOLBMFPP) as well as decision variables at each level are characterised into fuzzy goals. Suitable linear membership functions are defined for each objective function and decision variables. Then minimising the sum of the negative deviational variables of both levels, the highest membership value of each of fuzzy goals is obtained. Existence of compromise optimal solution for MOLBMFPP is established in context of proposed approach. A numerical example is illustrated in support of proposed methodology. A comparative analysis is also carried out in order to show efficiency of proposed method over earlier method for the solution of MOLBMFPP.

By handling the travel cost function artfully, the authors formulate the transportation mixed network design problem (MNDP) as a mixed-integer, nonlinear bilevel programming problem, in which the lower-level problem, comparing with that of conventional bilevel DNDP models, is not a side constrained user equilibrium assignment problem, but a standard user equilibrium assignment problem. Then, the bilevel programming model for MNDP is reformulated as a continuous version of bilevel programming problem by the continuation method. By virtue of the optimal-value function, the lower-level assignment problem can be expressed as a nonlinear equality constraint. Therefore, the bilevel programming model for MNDP can be transformed into an equivalent single-level optimization problem. By exploring the inherent nature of the MNDP, the optimal-value function for the lower-level equilibrium assignment problem is proved to be continuously differentiable and its functional value and gradient can be obtained efficiently. Thus, a continuously differentiable but still nonconvex optimization formulation of the MNDP is created, and then a locally convergent algorithm is proposed by applying penalty function method. The inner loop of solving the subproblem is mainly to implement an all-or-nothing assignment. Finally, a small-scale transportation network and a large-scale network are presented to verify the proposed model and algorithm.

In this article, we consider bilevel optimization problems with discrete lower level and continuous upper level problems. Taking into account both approaches (optimistic and pessimistic) which have been developed in the literature to deal with this type of problem, we derive some conditions for the existence of solutions. In the case where the lower level is a parametric linear problem, the bilevel problem is transformed into a continuous one. After that, we are able to discuss local optimality conditions using tools of variational analysis for each of the different approaches. Finally, we consider a simple application of our results namely the bilevel programming problem with the minimum spanning tree problem in the lower level.

This paper is concerned with general nonlinear nonconvex bilevel programming problems (BLPP). We derive necessary and sufficient conditions at a local solution and investigate the stability and sensitivity analysis at a local solution in the BLPP. We then explore an approach in which a bundle method is used in the upper-level problem with subgradient information from the lower-level problem. Two algorithms are proposed to solve the general nonlinear BLPP and are shown to converge to regular points of the BLPP under appropriate conditions. The theoretical analysis conducted in this paper seems to indicate that a sensitivity-based approach is rather promising for solving general nonlinear BLPP.

The paper is devoted to an analysis of a new constraint qualification and a derivation of the strongest existing optimality conditions for nonsmooth mathematical programming problems with equality and inequality constraints in terms of Demyanov-Rubinov-Polyakova quasidifferentials under the minimal possible assumptions. To this end, we obtain a novel description of convex subcones of the contingent cone to a set defined by quasidifferentiable equality and inequality constraints with the use of a new constraint qualification. We utilize these description and constraint qualification to derive the strongest existing optimality conditions for nonsmooth mathematical programming problems in terms of quasidifferentials under less restrictive assumptions than in previous studies. The main feature of the new constraint qualification and related optimality conditions is the fact that they depend on individual elements of quasidifferentials of the objective function and constraints and are not invariant with respect to the choise of quasidifferentials. To illustrate the theoretical results, we present two simple examples in which optimality conditions in terms of various subdifferentials (in fact, any outer semicontinuous/limiting subdifferential) are satisfied at a nonoptimal point, while the optimality conditions obtained in this paper do not hold true at this point, that is, optimality conditions in terms of quasidifferentials, unlike the ones in terms of subdifferentials, detect the nonoptimality of this point.

In this paper we study constraint qualifications and optimality conditions for bilevel programming problems. We strive to derive checkable constraint qualifications in terms of problem data and applicable optimality conditions. For the bilevel program with convex lower level program we discuss drawbacks of reformulating a bilevel programming problem by the mathematical program with complementarity constraints and present a new sharp necessary optimality condition for the reformulation by the mathematical program with a generalized equation constraint. For the bilevel program with a nonconvex lower level program we propose a relaxed constant positive linear dependence (RCPLD) condition for the combined program.

Under study is a special class of mixed-integer bi-level programming problem (BLPP) which arises in several areas such as engineering, transportation and control systems. The main characteristic of BLPP is that the outer optimization (upper level) problem is constrained by an inner optimization (lower level) problem. In this paper, a Lagrangean relaxation method is proposed to obtain an acceptable feasible solution by solving a sequence of one-level mixed-integer problems. The computational results on some examples were taken from literatures and randomly generated problems indicate that the method is able to solve the BLPP efficiently.

Optimistic Stackelberg solutions to bilevel linear programming with fuzzy random variable coefficients