Microeconomic Modeling And Policy Analysis

Microeconomic Modeling and Policy Analysis: Studies in Residential Energy Demand analyzes the aggregates and distributional impacts from alternative energy polices related to the energy demands of residential consumers. The book also analyzes the use of micro-simulation models in the study. The book examines three alternative energy policies and their possible impacts on the residential energy demand. The text describes models on energy use including general micro-simulation and micro-simulation as applied in ""Residential End-Use Energy Planning Systems"" (REEPS) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Residential Energy Consumption Model. The book describes REEPS as a model providing end-use specific forecasts of energy consumption at the household level. The text describes ORNL as a computationally simpler design but conceptually more complex one. The book then evaluates three different policy scenarios using each of these two models. The performance of REEPS and ORNL, as well as other dimensions of model projections, is examined. The implications regarding 1) policy analysis and 2) the use of micro simulation models are noted. The book then presents a table that summarizes the results of the comparative model evaluation. Energy policymakers, city and local government planning officials, development engineers, and environmentalists will find this book very relevant.

This book shows, from start to finish, how microeconomics can and should be used in the analysis of public policy problems. It is an exciting new way to learn microeconomics, motivated by its application to important, real-world issues. Lee Friedman's modern replacement for his influential 1984 work not only brings the issues addressed into the present but develops all intermediate microeconomic theory to make this book accessible to a much wider audience. Friedman offers the microeconomic tools necessary to understand policy analysis of a wide range of matters of public concern--including the recent California electricity crisis, welfare reform, public school finance, global warming, health insurance, day care, tax policies, college loans, and mass transit pricing. These issues are scrutinized through microeconomic models that identify policy strengths, weaknesses, and ideas for improvements. Each chapter begins with explanations of several fundamental microeconomic principles and then develops models that use and probe them in analyzing specific public policies. The book has two primary and complementary goals. One is to develop skills of economic policy analysis: to design, predict the effects of, and evaluate public policies. The other is to develop a deep understanding of microeconomics as an analytic tool for application--its strengths and extensions into such advanced techniques as general equilibrium models and pricing methods for natural monopolies and its weaknesses, such as behavioral inconsistencies with utility-maximization models and its limits in comparing institutional alternatives. The result is an invaluable professional and academic reference, one whose clear explanation of principles and analytic techniques, and wealth of constructive applications, will ensure it a prominent place not only on the bookshelves but also on the desks of students and professionals alike.

Models in Microeconomic Theory covers basic models in current microeconomic theory. Part I (Chapters 1-7) presents models of an economic agent, discussing abstract models of preferences, choice, and decision making under uncertainty, before turning to models of the consumer, the producer, and monopoly. Part II (Chapters 8-14) introduces the concept of equilibrium, beginning, unconventionally, with the models of the jungle and an economy with indivisible goods, and continuing with models of an exchange economy, equilibrium with rational expectations, and an economy with asymmetric information. Part III (Chapters 15-16) provides an introduction to game theory, covering strategic and extensive games and the concepts of Nash equilibrium and subgame perfect equilibrium. Part IV (Chapters 17-20) gives a taste of the topics of mechanism design, matching, the axiomatic analysis of economic systems, and social choice. The book focuses on the concepts of model and equilibrium. It states models and results precisely, and provides proofs for all results. It uses only elementary mathematics (with almost no calculus), although many of the proofs involve sustained logical arguments. It includes about 150 exercises. With its formal but accessible style, this textbook is designed for undergraduate students of microeconomics at intermediate and advanced levels.

Microeconomic Simulation Models for Public Policy Analysis, Volume 1: Distributional Impacts is a collection of papers presented at a conference of the same title held in Washington, D.C. in March 1978. This collection discusses extended micro data models for first-round distributional analysis, models that incorporate behavioral responses to the policies being stimulated, models of macroeconomics, and models that have sectorial or regional impacts. One paper explains that increasing support for the negative income tax scheme can result in bigger increase in the budgetary cost of the program itself. Another paper evaluates the Kasten, Greenberg, Betson program as useful for policymakers to determine the distributional consequences of any proposed changes in policy in welfare reforms. With the oil embargo and energy crisis in the U.S., one author presents a model to measure the impacts these events have on energy consumers, especially on the lower-income group. Such model employs a comprehensive human resources data system that measures the distributional impacts of energy policies. This book is beneficial for policy makers and regulators involved in economic and public services. This book can also help sociologists and academicians in the field of political science and developmental studies.

Microeconomic modeling has been an important tool for agricultural economists for several decades and promises to be important for ad-dressing the research problems of the 1980s as well. This volume explores the possibilities for using micromodeling to analyze how individual farm businesses react to and are affected by farm policies. Although this purpose represents only one potential use of micro-modeling, effective modeling for policy analysis necessitates a broad look from several historical, analytical, and institutional perspectives. The Micromodeling Conference held November 18-20, 1981, at Airlie House, Virginia, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agri-culture's Economic Research Service and the Farm Foundation reflected these concerns.

The editors bring together examples of microsimulation modeling that are at the frontiers of developments in the field, either because they extend the range of techniques available to modelers, or because they demonstrate new applications for established methods. This volume represents the state of the art with chapters on the use of microsimulation for comparative policy research and for challenging conventional assumptions, combining microsimulation with other types of economic models and the much-neglected subjects of model alignment and validation. Data and case studies are taken from regions including Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.

John Levy's text presents microeconomic theory for use in analyzing and formulating public policy. It couples a direct and non-intimidating approach to essential theory with a presentation that is sophisticated at the policy level. It does not attempt to cover the entire body of economic theory, but rather presents those elements of theory most relevant to courses in public economics and public policy in such programs as public administration, policy analysis, health planning, environmental management, urban affairs, and urban planning. The text is divided into two parts. The first introduces basic concepts with an emphasis on their philosophical underpinnings and policy uses; the second consists of six essays on policy-related subjects, selected to make use of concepts presented in the first part. Among the unusual features of the book are the discussion of the tax expenditure concept, benefit cost analysis with numerical example, substantial discussions of the origins and philosophical implications of economic man as a behavioral model, and an entire chapter devoted to public choice.

Microeconomic Simulation Models for Public Policy Analysis, Volume 2: Sectoral, Regional, and General Equilibrium Models is a collection of papers presented at a conference of the same title held in Washington, D.C. in March 1978. This volume deals with economic equilibrium models. This collection also discusses micro data models of the macroeconomy that include policy explorations concerning the transaction model of the American economy. One paper reviews the experiments with fiscal policy parameters from a micro to a macro model related to the Swedish economy: this model analyzes inflation a.