Introduction to Economy-Wide Policy Impact Analysis
Workshop, 24-28 March 2014, Pretoria
Most economics curricula deal with macroeconomic tools for studying the economy as a whole and microeconomic tools for studying the behaviour of individual agents or markets. However, practical public and private sector economic analysts often need to focus on the industry/sector or meso-level of economic activity. Key sector analysis, sectoral impact studies, partial and general equilibrium trade and industry analysis are frequently conducted in both the public and the private sector.
Input-Output (IO), Supply-Use Table (SUT) and Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) analyses are often used as tools for such meso-level economic enquiry. Researchers use these tools to analyse the impact of policy-related and other changes on the economy. They can also be extended to address broader concerns, such as the impact of policy on the environment or on energy requirements. Economic modelling techniques that capture economy-wide impacts of policy changes are increasingly being used in academic, consulting, research and policy environments in Southern Africa and elsewhere.
To cater for the rising demand for these techniques, TIPS started offering an introductory workshop in economy-wide policy impact analysis in 2001. We are pleased to announce that the eleventh offering of this popular workshop will be held in Pretoria from 24-28 March, 2014.
The experience TIPS has had presenting these workshops for more than a decade has shown how important it is to understand not only the techniques of economy-wide analysis, but also the nature of the inter-industry data used to apply them to actual economies. The Workshop therefore begins with an examination of these basic data and how they can be integrated consistently with other data to given a picture of the whole economy. It then develops more and more sophisticated techniques that can be applied to a wide range of issues. These issues will include employment; energy; regional interactions; cost push price effects; the consequences of bottlenecks; income distribution; and how the structure of the economy impacts on these issues.
The workshop is presented by academics and experts in the field of economy-wide policy modelling. Lectures introduce the theory and provide insight into the scope of research possible using a particular modelling technique. Each lecture is followed by hands-on exercises applying the theory or model to relevant policy issues using economic data from South Africa and other Southern African countries. Apart from imparting the practical skills needed to apply the theory, these exercises familiarise participants with key features of economies studied. Participants also present brief group projects using the modelling tools learnt during the workshop. The models are all applied using Microsoft Excel.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with sufficient theoretical and practical skills to engage in linear economy-wide impact analysis. The workshop also provides a useful basis for process managers who have to digest such analysis, even though they may not undertake it themselves while it offers a solid grounding for those who wish to enter into the field of computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling. For these participants, a CGE modelling workshop will be offered at a later stage.
Workshop fees (including light lunch): R11 500 (excluding VAT) and US$1 500 for participants from Developed Countries. To ensure that the workshop is pitched at the correct level, we invite interested participants to complete the attached form and return it to denves@xtra.co.nz.
The maximum number of students is 20. Note that TIPS will not make refunds after the payment due date unless the workshop is cancelled. TIPS' invoice documentation (tax clearance, bank clearance, etc) will only be sent on request by registered post. It is therefore important to make sure that TIPS is on your organisation's list of preferred suppliers and to factor-in sufficient time for these processes.
Suggested Reading List
1. Miller, R. and Blair, P. (2009) Input-output analysis: Foundations and extensions, Cambridge University Press, Second Edition, http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521517133
Chapter 2: Foundations of Input Output Analysis
Chapter 4: Organisation of Basic Data for Input-Output Models
Chapter 5: The Commodity –by-Industry Approach in Input-Output Models
Chapter 6: Multipliers in the Input-Output Model
Chapter 9: Energy Input-Output Analysis
Chapter 10: Environmental Input-Output Analysis
Chapter 11: Social Accounting Matrices
Chapter 13, Section 2: Mixed Models
2. Round, J.I. (2003) Social Accounting Matrices and SAM-based Multiplier Analysis, pp. 301-324 in eds. François Bourguignon and Luiz A. Pereira da Silva. The Impact of Economic Policies on Poverty and Income Distribution: Evaluation echniques and Tools. World Bank and Oxford University Press, Washington, D.C. and New York,
http://www.un.org/esa/policy/sanjose_training_mdgs/round_2003_sams_chapter14.pdf.
3. United Nations. (1999) Handbook of Input-Output Table Compilation and Analysis, Studies in Methods, Handbook of National Accounting, Series F, No 74, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division,
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/publication/SeriesF/SeriesF_74E.pdf.
Chapter II: The System of National Accounts (SNA) Framework of Supply and Use Tables (SUT): Overview
4. Eurostat. (2008) Eurostat Manual of Supply, Use and Input-Output Tables
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-RA-07-013/EN/KS-RA-07-013-EN.PDF
Section 1: Supply and Use Tables as an Integral Part of the Compilation of National Accounts
Section 2: The Supply Table
Section 3: The Use Table
5. IFPRI, (2010) Social Accounting Matrices and Multiplier Analysis, an Introduction with Exercises, IFPRI Food Security in Practice series, http://www.ifpri.org/publication/social-accounting-matrices-and-multiplier-analysis.
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The 
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