Microsimulation and Public Policy: Selected Papers from the IARIW Special Conference on Microsimulation and Public Policy, Held in Canberra, Australia, Between 5th and 9th December, 1993 / Edition 1

by A. F. Harding

Overview

Microsimulation models provide an exciting new tool for analysing the distributional impact and cost of government policy changes. They can also be used to analyse the current or future structure of society. This volume contains papers describing new developments at the frontiers of microsimulation modelling, and draws upon experiences in a wide range of countries. Some papers aim to share with other modellers, experience gained in designing and running microsimulation models and their use in government policy formulation. They also examine issues at the frontiers of the discipline, such as how to include usage of health, education and welfare services in models. Other chapters focus upon describing the innovative new approaches being taken in dynamic microsimulation modelling. They describe some of the policy applications for which dynamic models are being used in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Topics covered include retirement income modelling, pension reform, the behavioural impact of tax changes, child care demand, and the inclusion of government services within models. Attention is also given to validating the results of models and estimating their statistical reliability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780444818942
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:	04/22/1996
Series:	Contributions to Economic Analysis , #232
Pages:	548
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.22(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction and overview (A. Harding). Part 1: Static Models and Applications. Microsimulation of direct taxes and fiscal policy in the United Kingdom (R. Eason). Microsimulation modelling experience at the Canadian department of finance (A. Gupta, V. Kapur). Microsimulation in comparative social policy analysis: A case study of unemployment schemes for Belgium and The Netherlands (L. De Lathouwer). Including consumption expenditure and welfare services in a microsimulation model (A. Salomaki). The use of microsimulation to update poverty statistics based on household budget surveys: a pilot study for the United Kingdom (K. de Vos, M.A. Zaidi). Part 2: Incorporating Behavioural Response. A microsimulation approach to the demand for day care for children in Denmark (H. Baekgaard). Modelling consumer behavioural response to commodity tax reforms (E. Symons, N. Warren). Market and non-market labour supply and the impact of the recent German tax reform - incorporating behavioural response (J. Merz). Direct and behavioural effects of income tax changes - simulations with the Swedish model microhus (A. Klevmarken, P. Olovsson). Part 3: Lifetime and Retirement Incomes. Poverty alleviation vs social insurance systems: A comparison of lifetime distribution (J. Falkingham, A. Harding). Social security and lifetime income redistribution: A microsimulation approach (J.H.M. Nelissen). Microsimulation of pension reform proposals: Modelling the earnings of couples (H.P. Galler). Pension analysis in a static model with lifetime income distribution: Initial results (B. Eklind et al.). The future burden of public pension benefits: A microsimulation study (L. Andreassen et al.). Part 4: Micro/Macro Links and Firm Behaviour. Forecasting changes in the distribution of income: An applied general equilibrium approach (G.A. Meagher). XECON: An experimental/evolutionary model of economic growth (M. Wolfson). Endogenous economic growth through selection (G. Eliasson). Firm sponsored training, technical progress and aggregate performance in a micro-macro model (G. Ballot, E. Taymaz). Part 5: Models and Data. Centralised data management: Can it help micro-modellers? (K. Blackburn, W. Richter). Statistical reliability in microsimulation models with econometrically-estimated behavioural responses (S. Pudney, H. Sutherland). Health, wealth, pensions and life paths: The corsim dynamic microsimulation model (S. Caldwell). Index. Notes on contributors.

Editorial Reviews

Contains selected papers from a December 1993 conference, describing new developments at the frontiers of microsimulation modeling. Some papers share experience gained in designing and running microsimulation models and their use in government policy formulation, and examine issues such as inclusion of usage of health, education, and welfare services in models. Other papers describe new approaches in dynamic microsimulation modeling and policy applications in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Looks at areas including pension reform and child care demand, and discusses issues such as validating results of models and estimating their statistical reliability. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews