Abstract
This paper considers the problem of grouping Parliamentary constituencies for Wales together into European constituencies in such a way that the resulting European constituencies have as equal electorates as possible. Three different solution methods are compared. These methods are integer programming, set partitioning and implicit enumeration. Computational results obtained by use of SCICONIC/VM and user written programs on a DEC VAX 8600 are reported.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
E. Balas and M.W. Padberg, “Set partitioning: A Survey,”SIAM Review 18 (1976) 710–780.
E.M.L. Beale and J.A. Tomlin, “Special facilities in a general mathematical programming system for non-convex problems using ordered sets of variables,” in: J. Lawrence, ed.,Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Operational Research (Tavistock Publications, London, 1970) pp. 447–454.
Boundary Commission for Wales,1983 Review of European Assembly Constituencies (Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, March 1984).
L.R. Foulds,Optimization Techniques, An Introduction (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1981).
R.S. Garfinkel and G.L. Nemhauser, “Optimal Political Districting by Implicit Enumeration Techniques,”Management Science 16 (1970) B-495–B-508.
A.M. Geoffrion, “Integer programming by implicit enumeration and Balas' method,”SIAM Review 9 (1967) 178–190.
S.W. Hess, J.B. Weaver, H.J. Siegfeldt, J.N. Whelan and P.A. Zitlau “Nonpartisan Political Redistricting by Computer,”Operations Research 13 (1965) 998–1006.
W. Hummeltenberg, “Implementation of special ordered sets in MP software,”European Journal of Operations Research 17 (1984) 1–15.
E. Minieka,Optimization Algorithms for Networks and Graphs (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1978).
M. O'h Eigeartaigh, J.K. Lenstra and A.H.G. Rinnooy KanCombinatorial Optimization, Annotated Bibliographies (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1985).
Scicon,MGG/VM User Guide (Scicon Ltd, Milton Keynes, August 1985).
Scicon,SCICONIC/VM User Guide (Scicon Ltd, Milton Keynes, February 1986).
R.G. Smith, L.R. Foulds and E.G. Read, “A political restricting problem,”New Zealand Operational Research 4 (1976) 37–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nygreen, B. European assembly constituencies for wales - comparing of methods for solving a political districting problem. Mathematical Programming 42, 159–169 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01589400
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01589400