EUROMOD: the European Union tax-benefit microsimulation model

This paper aims to provide an introduction to the current state of the art of EUROMOD, the European Union tax-benefit microsimulation model. It explains the original motivations for building a multi-country EU-wide model and summarises its current organisation. It provides an overview of EUROMOD components, covering its policy scope, the input data, the validation process and some technical aspects such as the tax-benefit programming language and the user interface. The paper also reviews some recent applications of EUROMOD and, finally, considers future developments

The Spatial Distribution of Labour Force Participation and Market Earnings at the Sub-National Level in Ireland

The main aim of this paper is to provide a spatial modelling framework for labour force participation and income estimation. The development of a household income distribution for Ireland had previously been hampered by the lack of disaggregated data on individual earnings. Spatial microsimulation through a process of calibration provides a method which allows one to recreate the spatial distribution LFP and household market income at the small area level. Further analysis examines the relationship between LFP, occupational type and market income at the small area level in Co. Galway Ireland.Household Market Income Distribution, Employment, Spatial Microsimulation, Calibration, Mapping

Behavioural Microsimulation Modelling With the Melbourne Institute Tax and Transfer Simulator(MITTS) : Uses and Extensions

This paper describes microsimulation modelling in non-technical terms; and it explains what can be achieved with microsimulation modelling in general, and the Melbourne Institute Tax and Transfer Simulator (MITTS) in particular. The focus is on behavioural microsimulation modelling, which takes individuals’ labour supply responses into account when analysing tax and transfer reforms. Microsimulation models are built to replicate closely the considerable degree of heterogeneity observed in the population. Several examples of recent uses of MITTS are given and briefly described. In addition, one worked-out example is presented to illustrate some of the features and typical outputs of MITTS. Given the relatively recent development of behavioural microsimulation models, there are several opportunities for further extensions. For example, it would be valuable to allow for the demand side of labour, indicating whether new labour force participants are likely to find work; or to allow for life-cycle dynamics, which are important to deal with population-ageing issues or with female labour force participation.

Time Use Research and Time Use Data – Actual Topics and New Frontiers

This paper is asking about the actual used and appropriate data for recent substantive time use research. Emphasis is laid on both, macroanalytic and microanalytic approaches. However, the focus is on microeconomic approaches with topics on time use in the labour market (labour supply) and household production including the shadow pricing of unpaid work. Based on a structured survey about time use research and their data, actual topics, advantages and disadvantages of the data connected with the requirements on the research frontier and hints for further needs and developments are discussed.Time use research, time use data, time budget, macro- and micronanalytic approaches