Academic literature on the topic 'Computable general equilibrium models'

This thesis analyses two issues in public economics: (1) water allocation in Israel; and (2) malaria prevention in Ghana. In both cases a computable general equilibrium modelling approach has been applied for policy analysis. Part I: In Israel, parliamentary investigative committees and water researchers have concluded that for decades, the administrative water allocation mechanism has mismanaged water allocation. Over subsidising of the agricultural sector, and underfunding of desalination plants, had led to a severe hydrological deficit. Critics argue that a water market allocation could solve these issues. However, the administrative allocation is crucial because it protects social value, which is not represented in a market mechanism. Part I of the thesis compares these two alternative allocation mechanisms using a general equilibrium model, for the case of Israel. The model concludes that from 1995 to 2006, the upper-bound water misallocation in Israel was relatively small, on the average of 5.5% of the potable water supply. The lower-bound value of agricultural amenities is imputed at approximately 2.3 times agricultural economic output. At the margin, introducing a water market in Israel is not recommended, i.e., net-social welfare would fall. Part II: Research that links between malaria and economic growth have, so far, used econometric approaches. These provide results that are too broad, and not particularly useful for policy analysis. We, therefore, develop a multi-region multihousehold dynamic computable general equilibrium (DCGE) model, which is calibrated to Ghana as a case study. Households are disaggregated by five epidemiological malaria regions, urban-rural divide, and income level quintiles. The model links with malaria through regional demographic effects, and labour effectiveness indices. Hypothetical interventions simulate reducing malaria prevalence by 50%, for children under-five years with varying degrees of coverage. We find that even under this limited intervention, malaria prevention clearly adds to economic growth and reduces income inequality. Our approach is particularly useful for policy makers to compare alternative intervention strategies using cost-benefit methods, which are not commonly used in health policy.

Thesis (PhD (Agric))--Stellenbosch University, 2013.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is common practice in computable general equilibrium (CGE) models that the output composition of multi-product industries remains constant despite changes in relative prices of products. The results of any scenario will show that products produced by a single industry will still be produced in the same ratio to each other as reflected by the base data. The objective of the study was to develop a CGE model for South Africa in which this assumption of fixed composition of output can be selectively relaxed. In order to allow industries to adjust their output composition in response to changes in relative prices of products a Constant Elasticity of Transformation (CET) function and the related first order condition were incorporated into an existing CGE model. This alternative specification of an output transformation function in the model enables the modeller to allow selected multi-product industries to increase production of products that show greater price increases relative to other products. The first order condition of the CET function determines the optimal combination of products for each industry. With the inclusion of the CET function there is a trade-off between theoretical rigour of the model and realism of the results, therefore an assumption of input-output separability was introduced as a way of recognising that the inclusion of a CET function violates the assumption that prices in the same row of a social accounting matrix (SAM) are equivalent. The model was calibrated with a SAM for South Africa for 2007 that was developed for purposes of this study. Set controls were included in the model to generalise the model in order that it can be calibrated with data from other countries as well. The SAM for South Africa contains provincial level information in the accounts for agriculture, labour and households. The agricultural industries are defined by geographical area, hence these industries are particularly good examples of multi-product industries that respond to relative price changes when determining production levels of individual products. The adjusted CGE model was used to analyse four scenarios focusing on selected issues mentioned in the National Development Plan for South Africa released by the National Planning Commission in 2011. The scenarios relate to increases in fruit exports as a result of global positioning, technical efficiency improvements for the agricultural sector through continued research and development, factor productivity growth in government and selected services sectors resulting from fighting corruption and curbing strikes, and augmenting the supply of skilled labour through an improvement in the quality of education. The results of the adjusted model show the desired effect: producers produce relatively more of the products for which they can get a relatively higher price and vice versa. This holds true regardless of whether the level of industry output increases or decreases. The impact of the model adjustment and the effects of changes in the levels of elasticities and choice of variables to close the model were analysed as part of the sensitivity analyses. The impact of changes in the functional form, elasticities and model closures on results, are different for each scenario.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is erkende praktyk in berekenbare algemene ewewigsmodelle dat die verhoudings waarin produkte tot mekaar geproduseer word deur multi-produk industrieë konstant gehou word, ongeag veranderings in relatiewe pryse van produkte. Die resultate van enige senario sal dus aandui dat die produkte wat deur 'n enkele industrie geproduseer word steeds in dieselfde verhouding tot mekaar geproduseer sal word, soos weerspieël in die basis data. Die doel van die studie was om 'n berekenbare algemene ewewigsmodel vir Suid-Afrika te ontwikkel wat die aanname dat die samestelling van elke industrie se uitset onveranderbaar is, selektief kan verslap. Om toe te laat dat industrieë die samestelling van uitset kan aanpas namate die relatiewe pryse van produkte verander, is 'n Konstante Elastisiteit van Transformasie funksie en die gepaardgaande eerste orde voorwaarde in 'n bestaande berekenbare algemene ewewigsmodel ingesluit. Die eerste orde voorwaarde bepaal die optimale verhoudings waarin produkte geproduseer moet word. Met die insluiting van die Konstante Elastisiteit van Transformasie funksie word teoretiese korrektheid van die model ingeboet in ruil vir meer realistiese resultate, dus is die aanname van inset-uitset onafhanklikheid gemaak en daardeur word ook erken dat as gevolg van die insluiting van die Konstante Elastisiteit van Transformasie funksie word daar nie meer voldoen aan die aanname data alle pryse in dieselfde ry van die sosiale rekeninge matriks (SRM) aan mekaar gelyk is nie. Die model is gekalibreer met 'n SRM vir Suid-Afrika vir 2007 wat vir doeleindes van die studie ontwikkel is. Deur die insluiting van kontroles vir versamelings is die model veralgemeen sodat die model ook met data van ander lande gekalibreer kan word. Die SRM vir Suid-Afrika se rekeninge vir landbou, arbeid en huishoudings bevat inligting op provinsiale vlak. Die landbou industrieë is volgens geografiese gebiede afgebaken en is dus besonder goeie voorbeelde van multi-produk industrieë wat reageer op relatiewe prys veranderings wanneer die produksievlakke van afsonderlike produkte bepaal word. Die aangepaste algemene ewewigsmodel is gebruik om vier senarios te ondersoek wat fokus op geselekteerde onderwerpe vervat in die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan wat deur die Nasionale Beplanningskommissie van Suid Afrika in 2011 vrygestel is. Die senarios hou verband met 'n styging in vrugte uitvoere as gevolg van globale posisionering, tegniese produktiwiteitsverhogings vir die landbousektor deur volgehoue navorsing en ontwikkeling, verhoging in die produktiwiteit van produksiefaktore van die regering en geselekteerde dienste sektore deur die aanspreek van korrupsie en vermindering in stakings, en die toename in geskoolde arbeid deur 'n verbetering in die kwaliteit van onderwys. Resultate van die aangepaste model toon die gewenste uitwerking: produsente produseer relatief meer van die produkte waarvoor hulle 'n relatiewe hoër prys kan kry, en omgekeerd. Dit geld ongeag of daar 'n verhoging of 'n verlaging in die vlak van die industrie se uitset is. Die impak van die modelaanpassing, die effek van veranderings in die vlakke van elastisiteite en die keuse van veranderlikes om die model te sluit, is geanaliseer as deel van die sensitiwiteitsanalises. Die impak van veranderings in die funksionele vorm, elastisiteite en modelsluiting op resultate, is verskillend vir elke senario.

This paper presents the concept of numerical CGE modeling with the help of a 2-country general equilibrium model. In the framework of this simple dynamic monetary model the effects of a (unilateral) monetary and fiscal expansion are simulated. The exchange rate of the home vis-à-vis the foreign currency depreciates in response to both types of shocks. The monetary expansion leads to an increase in home relative to foreign private consumption and to a sharp increase in relative home output in the short run, while in the long run output increases in the foreign country and decreases in the home country. The unilateral fiscal expansion, on the other hand, results in a fall of private consumption in the home relative to the foreign country, and in an increase in relative home output in the short as well as in the long run. The world real interest rate falls quite substantially in response to both shocks. (author's abstract)<br>Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Technology, Management, and Policy Program, 2001.<br>Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-352).<br>This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.<br>Policies to avert the threat of dangerous climate change focus on stabilizing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations by drastically reducing anthropogenic emissions of carbon. Such reductions require limiting the use of fossil fuels-which supply the bulk of energy to economic activity, and for which substitutes are lacking-which is feared will cause large energy price increases and reductions in economic welfare. However, a key determinant of the cost of emissions limits is technological change-especially innovation induced by the price changes that stem from carbon abatement itself, about which little is understood.This thesis investigates the inducement of technological change by limits on carbon emissions, and the effects of such change on the macroeconomic cost of undertaking further reductions. The analysis is conducted using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the US economy-a numerical simulation that determines aggregate welfare based on the interaction of prices with the demands for and supplies of commodities and factors across different markets. Within the model induced technical change (ITC) is represented by the effect of emissions limits on the accumulation of the economy's stock of knowledge, and by the reallocation of the intangible services generated by the stock, which are a priced input to sectoral production functions.<br>(cont.) The results elucidate four key features of ITC: (1) the inducement process, i.e., the mechanism by which relative prices determine the level and the composition of aggregate R&D; (2) the effects of changes in R&D on knowledge accumulation in the long-run, and of contemporaneous substitution of knowledge services within and among industries; (3) the loci of sectoral changes in intangible investment and knowledge inputs induced by emissions limits; and (4) the ultimate impact of the accumulation and substitution of knowledge on economic welfare.<br>by Ian Sue Wing.<br>Ph.D.

We use a three-country, 14-sector computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to examine the effect of immigration on the labor market, production sectors and the macroeconomy of Austria and Hungary. We analyze the phenomenon of immigration in an empirical model in order to get an idea of the quantitative dimension of the economic problems involved, rather than introduce new integration theory. Our study aims more at the impact of migration than at forecasting future migration flows. (excerpt)<br>Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

The aim of this thesis is to examine whether trade liberalization, in terms of complete tariff reductions, will contribute to poverty reduction in Fiji. Whilst poverty reduction is the ultimate goal of trade reforms, and if trade liberalization does promote growth, then will the poor benefit from this trade liberalization? Previous studies on trade liberalization on Fiji are based on partial equilibrium as well as general equilibrium analysis. These studies have shown that trade liberalization will have positive impacts on the Fijian economy. Trade liberalization is unlikely to produce equivalent results of its impact on poverty across households and regions. Thus even within a country or geographic regions, households and individuals are likely to be differently impacted. However, none of the existing studies focus on the impact of trade liberalization on poverty at the household level. This, according to my knowledge, is thus the first study using a computable general equilibrium combined with a microsimulation approach for analysing the impact of trade liberalization on poverty in Fiji. This research will therefore further our understanding of the impact of trade liberalization on poverty in a small island developing country. It will also fill the gap in the literature on Fiji which lacks the impact of macroeconomic policies such as the impact of trade liberalization on poverty.<br>Thesis (PhD Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)<br>Griffith Business School<br>Griffith Business School<br>Full Text