Microsimulation Model For Rural Development

School of Geography, University of Leeds

Principal Investigator:

Dr GP Clarke

Dates:

1st October 2000 – 30th September 2001

Grant:

Rural Economy Research Centre - TEAGASC

Summary:

The objectives of this project are to:

• Build a household model of the rural population
• Estimate the characteristics of this population in terms of age, sex, social class, occupation, journey to work, work location
• Estimate household income
• Run what-if scenarios concerning job losses and gains as well as changes to social policy that affect household income

This would be the first rural economy model at small-area level. The models have advantages over traditional economic models (such as input-output models) because they deal with impacts at the small-area or local level (rather than the region as a whole). The model would also provide the first set of small area income estimates for Rural Ireland.