Description/Abstract
The term “microsimulation” has been linked to a range of tools and techniques that are finding growing use in empirical social science applications. This paper considers one such area, namely the potential for microsimulation to serve the needs of the data analyst, in contrast to the more common use of microsimulation by the model user. Furthermore, the focus is on longitudinal rather than cross-sectional data analysis. The paper identifies several types of longitudinal data modeling approaches in which microsimulation is particularly relevant, suggesting algorithms with which to conduct such microsimulations. Microsimulation can be used to extend the range of inferences that can be drawn from the estimated parameters of a model, can help to solve certain types of defective-data problems, and can fill gaps in available data. A relatively underdeveloped area is that of quantifying the uncertainty inherent in summary statistics based on data produced by a microsimulation program. I argued that due to strong parallels between the multiple imputation methodology and the structure and procedural aspects of many microsimulation exercises, the multiple imputation methodology provides a natural framework with which to develop estimates of the variances, and therefore the confidence intervals, that accompany estimates based on simulated data.
Document Type
Working Paper
Date
2-2001
Language
English
Series
Papers in Microsimulation Series
Disciplines
Economic Policy | Economics | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Public Policy | Sociology
ISSN
1084-1695
Recommended Citation
Wolf, Douglas A., "The Role of Microsimulation in Longitudinal Data Analysis" (2001). Center for Policy Research. 417.
https://surface.syr.edu/cpr/417
Source
Local Input
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional Information
Papers in microsimulation series paper no.6