The winter school in cross country microsimulation at the University of Essex, 18-20 February 2015, is part of the policy pillar of INGRID, a large research infrastructure network aimed at integrating existing research resources in the area of ‘Poverty and living conditions’ and ‘Working conditions and vulnerability’.
EUROMOD is a state-of-the-art tax benefit microsimulation model linking microdata from household surveys and policy legislation in a single user interface. It allows for complex policy impact analysis, such as evaluations of policy reforms in terms of poverty, inequality, work incentives and government budgets, assessments of EU-wide policies or estimation the impact of changing population characteristics on the redistributive effect of existing policies. EUROMOD is now expanded to cover all 27 pre-2013 EU Member States.
The course will cover the basics of tax-benefit microsimulation, the logic and structure behind EUROMOD, working with EUROMOD’s user interface, input data, EUROMOD ‘language’ and using existing documentation. The bulk of the course is dedicated to teaching EUROMOD functions which form the building blocks of the EUROMOD ‘language’. The course combines lectures with live demonstrations of the model. Participants also have the opportunity to carry out a number of hands-on exercises to test and refine their understanding of the model. The last half day of the course is devoted to presentations by participants and/or illustrating more advanced uses of the model.
At the end of the course, participants are expected to have a good understanding of how EUROMOD works and to be capable of using EUROMOD for their own purposes.
Exercises are carried out using participants’ private computers. Participants will be provided with a free copy of the latest public release of the model to be installed on their own personal computer. Please note that due to data access restrictions, the course will be using a ‘toy’ data set. No access to ‘real’ data can be granted on the basis of taking part in the course.
Participants currently using EUROMOD or intending to make use of EUROMOD in the near future are encouraged to have a brief (10 minute) presentation of their project.
The winter school in cross country microsimulation is part of the policy pillar of INGRID, a large research infrastructure network aimed at integrating existing research resources in the area of ‘Poverty and living conditions’ and ‘Working conditions and vulnerability’. By providing transnational data access, organising mutual knowledge exchange activities and improving methods and tools for comparative research. This integration will provide the related European scientific community with new and better opportunities to fulfil its key role in the development of evidence-based European policies for Inclusive Growth.
Prospective participants to the course are encouraged to consider combining attendance to the course with a visit to ISER to maximise their exposure to EUROMOD expertise. Further information on visiting and applying.
Requirements for attending the winter school are:
- an interest in using microsimulation for policy analysis;
- a basic knowledge of quantitative analysis;
- familiarity with Stata is desirable but not essential.
Candidates to this winter school are expected to apply before 12 December 2014 including a motivation for attending the winter school. Candidates should also indicate whether they plan to give a brief presentation about a project in which they (plan to) use EUROMOD. Applications will be evaluated and candidates will be informed whether their applications have been accepted by 21 December.
Participants will be selected based on their motivation for attending the course. Participants who are scheduled to visit ISER through the visiting grants scheme sponsored by INGRID will be prioritised.
Participation in the winter school is free of charge and potential participants may receive a partial reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs.
This winter school is aimed at PhD students, early-stage researcher and practitioners without prior knowledge of EUROMOD. The course will be focusing on conveying basic knowledge about the structure, logic and functioning of the EUROMOD model.
Participation is subject to InGRID’s terms and conditions for InGRID summer/winter schools. Queries regarding the expert workshop and application are sent to ccbloo@essex.ac.uk.