Assessing the impact of social and economic policy using microsimulation models
by
Ben Phillips
NATSEM, University of Canberra

NATSEM has an international reputation as a centre of excellence for analysing microdata and constructing microsimulation models. Microsimulation models differ from other policy analysis tools in that they model the effects of a policy change on an individual person or household and build up to the bigger picture by summing the effects on many individual cases. As a result, they are particularly useful for examining the distributional impacts of a policy change. Over the past decade NATSEM has constructed static, dynamic and regional microsimulation models and undertaken research across a wide spectrum of social and economic policy areas. These include tax, social security, ageing, wealth accumulation, superannuation, health and education. This presentation demonstrates the power of NATSEM’s microsimulation modelling techniques in providing policy makers with the best possible quantitative information on which to base their decisions.

Date received: May 7, 2002