To get started with this package, you'll need to do a couple of
things.  

First, you'll need to be able to quickly solve large
linear programs in matlab: Matlab 5.3 comes with a useful 
solver called "linprog".  Earlier versions of matlab have
code to solve linear programs, but it won't be useful except
for the smallest and simplest economies.  I've created an
interface to a quite good code called xbpmpd; use this if
you can.  Commercial codes may do even better; if you write
an interface to say, CPLEX, let me know.

Second, you should copy the file de_setup.m to someplace in 
your matlab path (e.g., ~/matlab/de_setup.m).  Edit this file,
setting the variables LP and DE_ROOT to appropriate values.
You may want to call de_setup from your startup.m file.

Third, check out the functioning of the code.  Take a look at
the example code in the file testbench.m.  Executing "testbench(1)"
will provide a good test of the lp solver; executing "testbench(2)"
will test the accuracy of your solvers' solutions to an economy
with insurance.

Fourth, take a look at the example code in the directory 
DiscreteEconomy/Examples.  Have fun.

-Ethan Ligon