General informationThe autumn school on %E2%80%98Elaborating and simulating a discrete-time dynamic microsimulation model with LIAM2, an open source development tool%E2%80%99, organised by the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER, formerly CEPS/INSTEAD), is intended as an extensive introduction for those who wish to initiate (or know more about) the development of a dynamic microsimulation model.This two and a half day workshop will leave maximum room for practice. After an overview of basic concepts, participants will start working on their own simple dynamic model from scratch, using the open source toolbox LIAM2. There is no need for prior knowledge of LIAM2 which will be introduced from zero during the workshop. Both basic and more advanced modelling methodologies will be introduced. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to introduce briefly their own developments or concerns which in turn might leave room for further improvements of LIAM2. See the Programme for more information.After this workshop, the participants will know enough to start the development of their own microsimulation model, including importing datasets and produce understandable output tables.About LIAM2Most existing microsimulation models have been developed by separate (teams of) researchers. The drawback of each team working on its own is that they have to put a lot of time and effort in the customary development of fairly general simulation tools. Hence, economies of scale cannot be exploited, which makes microsimulation models even more expensive than strictly necessary. Furthermore, as modellers often are not professional programmers, the result is not necessarily the most efficient in terms of simulation speed.By contrast, LIAM2 is a free, open source, user-friendly modelling and simulation framework, not tied to a particular model. It is made as generic as possible so that it can be used to develop static models and discrete-time dynamic microsimulation models with cross-sectional dynamic ageing (i.e. all individuals are simulated at the same time for one period, then for the next period, etc.). LIAM2 allows the development of models without having to program the underlying simulation technologies. It aims to strike a balance between readability of the model code and simulation efficiency. To date, it has been adopted by modellers in at least eight countries.

Course leader
LISER (formerly CEPS/INSTEAD), LuxembourgPhilippe.Liegeois@liser.lu

Target group
The course aims at policy analysts and modelling practitioners, PhD students and early-stage researchers, with at least basic knowledge of microsimulation modelling at large (static or dynamic, applied or theoretical concern), and who wish to initiate (or know more about) the development of a dynamic microsimulation model. Prior knowledge of LIAM2 is not required.Candidates should fill in the application form online before 2 August 2015, including a short motivation note describing to what extent he/she would benefit from the autumn school and another note about his/her current use of microsimulation (if any). Candidates will be informed at the latest by 10 September 2015 about acceptance to the autumn school. Participants will be selected based on the above requirements, and especially their motivation to attend the autumn school. Participants who are scheduled to visit LISER through the visiting grants scheme sponsored by InGRID will be prioritised.Participation to the school is free of charge, and participants may be eligible for reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs. The maximum number of nights to be reimbursed equals the number of attended meeting days. Participants can find more details and rules about eligible costs as well as the reimbursement limits and procedure in the financial information of the event in question.Participants are expected to attend the full length of the event. Participation is subject to InGRID's terms and conditions for InGRID summer/autumn/winter schools.



Course aim
Speakers: Gijs Dekkers (Federal Planning Bureau, CESO/University of Leuven, Belgium, and LISER, Luxembourg), Gatan de Menten (Federal Planning Bureau), Raphal Desmet (Federal Planning Bureau) and Philippe Ligeois (LISER-formerly CEPS/INSTEAD, Luxembourg).

Fee info
EUR 0: no fee

KU Leuven
Address: HIVA - institute for work and society, Parkstraat 47
Postal code: B-3000 Leuven
City: Leuven
Country: Belgium
Website: http://inclusivegrowth.be/events/
E-mail: lise.szeker@kuleuven.be
Phone: 0032 16 32 04 51