Improving Information for Social Policy Decisions -- The Uses of Microsimulation Modeling: Volume II, Technical Papers (1991)
Chapter: Functions of a System for Microanalytic Simulation
that are believable and (2) simulation systems that are versatile and flexible yet relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The rudimentary state of both of these factors is consistent with the paucity of such models and modeling systems today.
The production of knowledge in economics and related social science disciplines is a slow and laborious process for which there is no reliable production function. Although specific studies can be performed to increase knowledge at a specific time in a specific area, it is not now practical from either a cost or time standpoint to commission the research required to build a specific microanalytic model with any degree of completeness or closure.55 The substance of models must generally stand on knowledge that is already available.
The computer-based component affecting the availability and supply of microanalytic simulation models is more tractable to improvement. Evidence presented in the previous section leads to the strong presumption that there will be substantially more computing power available in the next few years, on the desktop, at current prices. This increase in power can be used in a number of complementary ways, including lowering the costs associated with microsimulation experiments and making the user interface easier to use. The underlying computing industry is experiencing rapid growth, with a high level of technical progress and innovation in hardware and software. We believe that it is possible to achieve major overall productivity and performance advantages by exploiting advances in hardware and software technology and that this should be a major thrust in the development of computer-based systems to support microanalytic simulation in the 1990s.
Functions of a System for Microanalytic Simulation
Computer programs have certain basic functions they perform in order to accomplish useful work. They accept and check input that defines a particular set of options and input values to be used. They allocate memory—primary, secondary, or both—for data used during the execution of the program. They allocate and use other resources to accomplish the task to be performed. They produce outputs, machine and human readable, that provide their reason for existence.
A computer program is useful to the extent that it performs these functions in a manner that fits within existing computer system resources, is efficient in
