New Frontiers in Microsimulation Modelling

In the past fifteen years, microsimulation models have become firmly established as vital tools for analysis of the distributional impact of changes in government programmes. Across Europe, the US, Canada and Australia, microsimulation models are used extensively to assess who are the winners and losers from proposed policy reforms. Encouraged by the ever-increasing complexity of social and economic programmes, microsimulation models have become an essential part of the policy reform process, allowing identification of the magnitude of gains and losses from policy changes in such areas as taxation, social security, pensions and social services.Microsimulation is now expanding into new frontiers, both geographically (with application in African countries and the countries of the former Soviet Union), and in terms of policy areas (which now include health and the care of older people). There have also been breakthroughs in the technology associated with microsimulation.With contributions from more than 60 international experts, this volume offers a comprehensive introduction to the state of microsimulation internationally, illustrating a wide range of new applications and approaches. It will be of relevance to government policy makers, social policy planners, econmists and those concerned with predicting the impact of public policy change and to academics in a variety of disciplines, especially social and public policy, human geography, development studies and economics.