Modelos de micro-simulación para el análisis de las políticas públicas

This paper reviews the use of microsimulation models as a tool for public policy analysis. This methodology, introduced initially in the fifties, has recently being used intensively specially in Europe thanks to the development of faster computers and better microdata surveys. The paper discusses the theoretical foundations of microsimulation models and describes the way in which they can be used to evaluate the impact of public policies on social welfare and the economy. The paper also describes an ongoing project that attempts to promote the generalized use of microsimulation models in Latin America.