The Centre of Policy Studies
and the IMPACT Project
The Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS), incorporating the Impact Project, specializes in
computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling. CoPS undertakes academic/contract research and software development, conducts training courses in CGE modelling and offers graduate student supervision.
MONASH, a detailed, dynamic CGE model of Australia,
has been used to analyse many economic policies, including changes in taxes, tariffs,
environmental regulations and competition policy. MONASH simulations also underlie
detailed forecasts of labour market demand and income distribution.
MMRF, a dynamic CGE model of Australia's states and
territories, has been used for a wide range of applications including analyses of
greenhouse issues. MMRF3 is the latest version of the model and has been used recently in
the analysis of the Potential Benefits of the National Reform Agenda.
TERM, a new highly disaggregated model of 57 Australian
sub-state regions, is a useful tool for examining the impacts of shocks that affect
specific regions, e.g., drought.
CoPS has taken its modelling techniques overseas, completing projects in South Africa,
Brazil, Taiwan, Thailand, China and other countries. MONASH-USA, a 500 industry dynamic computable general equilibrium model
of the US economy, is being developed in collaboration with the US International Trade
Commission. A simpler single-country model called ORANI-G has
been created as a pattern on which to base models of other countries.
CoPS modelling relies on the GEMPACK software, developed at
the unit, and used in over 400 other locations in 60 countries.
CoPS runs several training courses in CGE modelling each
year. These courses are aimed at those who need background in CGE modelling to work with
results from CGE models like ORANI-G and MONASH, or who wish to use GEMPACK to
build their own models.
The Centre of Policy Studies features in a China Daily Online article on the economic
effects of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games (link).
The Centre of Policy Studies features in a Times Online article on the economic
effects of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games (link).
Monash Memo featured the Monash-USA model developed at the Centre of Policy Studies
in the 'Did you know?' section (link).
Working Paper No. G-176 How would global trade liberalization affect rural and
regional incomes in Australia?, by Kym Anderson,James Giesecke and Ernesto Valenzuela
(abstract and download) is now available.
Working Paper No. G-175 Creating and managing an impossibly large CGE database that
is up-to-date, by Mark Horridge and Glyn Wittwer (abstract
and download) is now available. This paper will be presented at the 11th annual GTAP
conference, Helsinki, Finland, June 12-14, 2008