The. theory of reduced incidence algebras of binomial posets furnishes a unified treatment of several types of generating functions that arise in enumerative combinatorics. Using this theory as a tool, we study ‘reduced covering algebras’ of binomial lattices and show that they are isomorphic to various algebras of q-binomial generating functions for certain modular binomial lattices.

Mobile-agent systems allow user programs to autonomously relocate from one host site to another. This autonomy provides a powerful, flexible architecture on which to build distributed applications. The asynchronous, decentralized nature of mobile-agent systems makes them flexible, but also hinders their deployment. We argue that a marketbased approach where agents buy computational resources fr...

The extension of the Black{Scholes option pricing theory to the valuation of barrier options is reconsidered. Working in the binomial framework of CRR we show how various types of barrier options can be priced either by backward induction or by closed binomial formulas. We also consider analytically and numerically the convergence of the prices in discrete time to their continuous{time limits. ...

Abstract: The virtue of an American option is that it can be exercised at any time. This right is particularly valuable when there is model uncertainty. Yet almost all the extensive literature on American options assumes away model uncertainty. This paper quantifies the potential value of this flexibility by identifying the supremum on the price of an American option when no model is imposed on...

5 We demonstrate how commodity producers can take strategic specula6 tive positions in derivatives markets to soften competition in the spot mar7 ket. In our game, suppliers first choose a portfolio of call options and then 8 compete in supply functions. In equilibrium firms sell forward contracts 9 and buy call options to commit to downward sloping supply functions. Al10 though this strategy i...