This book is dedicated to the 70th birthday of Professor J. Mockus, whose scientific interests include theory and applications of global and discrete optimization, and stochastic programming. The papers for the book were selected because they relate to these topics and also satisfy the criterion of theoretical soundness combined with practical applicability. In addition, the methods for statistical analysis of extremal problems are covered. Although statistical approach to global and discrete optimization is emphasized, applications to optimal design and to mathematical finance are also presented. The results of some subjects (e.g., statistical models based on one-dimensional global optimization) are summarized and the prospects for new developments are justified. Audience: Practitioners, graduate students in mathematics, statistics, computer science and engineering.