What is Social Science Microsimulation?

Abstract

This article introduces microsimulation by presenting its main underlying ideas as well as its main strengths and drawbacks. Microsimulation is currently experiencing a boom, which is driven by three main forces. The first is the increased demand of policy makers for detailed projections and models able to assess distributional and long-term sustainability issues of social security systems. The second is the emergence of new research paradigms with an increased emphasis on individuals within their context, studied from a longitudinal, multilevel perspective. The third concerns technological advances, providing not only the necessary computer power but also the programming tools for model development, accessible to scientists without specialized programming skills. Although static microsimulation models are established tools for policy analysis, dynamic microsimulation has yet to find its way into the methodological toolbox of mainstream social scientists—but the prospects are promising.

Enhancing Dissemination and Implementation Research Using Systems Science Methods

“…But if a goal of the research is to better understand and explore the dynamic aspects of the relationships within the system, only SDM provides the tools for dynamic simulation. SDM is a compartmental model, differing from other microsimulations that model individuals within their context [11]. Compartmental models represent groups of people in categories, segmented by sex and age groups, and other defined subgroups.…”

Determinants and disparities: A simulation approach to the case of child health care

“…The dynamic micro-simulation model, based on empirical individual-level data over time, can account for social complexity, heterogeneity, and change (Orcutt, 1957;Spielauer, 2011). This is the technical approach we adopt in this paper with an application focussing on health service use in early childhood, with comparison to two other non-health outcomes.…”

Regression-Style Models for Parameter Estimation in Dynamic Microsimulation: An Empirical Performance Assessment

“…Micro-simulation models are being increasingly used, particularly in areas with policy application (Spielauer, 2010). To date however, there has been little discussion on the different models options for estimating the parameters that drive the MSM and how to choose between them.…”