Empirical Evidence Using Microsimulation Models in the Social Sciences

This chapter focuses on some empirical evidence in areas of social sciences where microsimulation plays a relevant role both for academic and policy achievements. It covers some of the most relevant uses of microsimulation techniques in economics, focusing on the social impact of tax and benefit policies and the use of microsimulation to estimate individual behavior. The chapter reviews some important and recent approaches and applications in economics, demography, geography, transport and environmental sciences, and identifies the intersections between the analyses performed in the different areas both in terms of methodology and content. Furthermore, it highlights the potential overlaps between microsimulation models and agent-based modeling, despite the lack of consensus in the literature on a unique definition of the terms “microsimulation” and “agent-based” models across disciplines.