Description:
The course provides an introduction to UKMOD, the free tax-benefit microsimulation model for the UK and its constituent nations. It is organised as a pre-conference workshop ahead of the Annual conference of the Social Policy Association, “Social Policy Futures”.
The course is organised jointly with the Alliance for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis CIC, which contributes to the maintenance, update and development of UKMOD.
Date: July 1-2, 2024
Registration: Limited places available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is no registration fee, the course is free of charge. There is no need to register to the conference for attending the course.
Venue:
University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre
99 George St
Glasgow, G1 1RD
Before the course: install UKMOD
- Download and install the model following the instructions here: https://www.microsimulation.ac.uk/ukmod/access. You can also request UKMOD input datasets via the same webpage if you wish. In the training we will use training data supplied with the public-access version of the model.
- Please email iser-ukmod@essex.ac.uk with any problems you encounter and we will try to help.
During the course
- Course timetable is in GMT (UK time).
- You will need to bring your own laptop, install the UKMOD software and download the model as explained above.
- The course is organised as a mixture of lectures and hands-on exercises. We will be showing you a step-by-step solution for each exercise.
- Each session includes time for questions as well as a dedicated Q&A session.
- We would welcome your feedback on what went well and not-so-well throughout and following the programme.
Program
[Download PDF]
Day 1 – Monday 1 July 2024
Instructor: Daria Popova
| (UK Time) | Topic |
| 9.30 – 10.00 | Arrival and refreshments |
| 10.00 – 11.00 | Session 1 Introduction: static tax-benefit models, distributional analysis and the UKMOD project |
| 11.00 – 11.10 | Break |
| 11.10 – 12.00 | Session 2 How UKMOD works Exercise 1: Running the model and using the Statistics Presenter |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch break |
| 13.00 – 14.00 | Session 3 EUROMOD tax-benefit microsimulation languageExercise 2: Implementing a reform and analysis using the Statistics Presenter |
| 14.00 – 14.10 | Break |
| 14.10 – 15.30 | Session 4 The policy spineThe policy functions Elig & ArithOp and the parameters amounts, formula, queriesExercise 3: Implementing a reform using Elig & ArithOp |
| 15.30 – 15.40 | Break |
| 15.40 – 16.40 | Session 5 Handling errors Types of functionThe policy function BenCalcExercise 4: Implementing a reform using BenCalc |
| 16.40 – 17.00 | Q&A |
| 17.00 | End of Day 1 |
Day 2 – Tuesday 2 July 2024
Instructor: Justin van de Ven
| (UK Time) | Topic |
| 9.30 – 10.00 | Arrival and refreshments |
| 10.00 – 11.00 | Session 6 Re-cap of Day 2 (functions Elig, ArithOp and BenCalc)The policy function SchedCalcThe system functions DefConst & DefIL |
| 11.00-11.10 | Break |
| 11.10 – 12.30 | Session 7 Exercise 5: Modifying income tax using SchedCalc and DefConstExercise 6: Modifying the benefit cap using DefIL |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Lunch break |
| 13.30 – 15.00 | Session 8 The policy function Allocate Assessment units and the system function DefTUExercise 7: Modifying the benefit unit using DefTU |
| 15.00 – 15.15 | Break |
| 15.15 – 16.30 | Session 9 Adding variables and system function DefVar System function SetDefaultUprating indices and the system function UprateSystem function DefOutput |
| 16.30-17.00 | Q&A |
| 17.00 | End of Day 2 |
UKMOD benefits from a grant from the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust (Grant reference number: 202211-GR000075, 2023-2024). abrdn Financial Fairness Trust funds research, policy work and campaigning activities to tackle financial problems and improve living standards for people on low-to-middle incomes in the UK. It is an independent charitable trust registered in Scotland (SC040877).