Léonid Kantorovich

Léonid Kantorovich was a Soviet mathematician and economist who pioneered linear programming, a mathematical method for optimizing resource allocation. He developed techniques to find the most efficient way to distribute limited resources to meet various goals, such as maximizing profit or minimizing cost. His work allowed businesses and governments to make better decisions when planning production, transportation, and logistics. Kantorovich’s contributions helped lay the foundation for modern operational research and optimization, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1975 for his innovations in economic resource allocation.