Simulating Migration In The Pensim2 Dynamic Microsimulation Model

Modelling migration is fundamentally important to maintaining the appropriate population structure in a dynamic microsimulation model. It is particularly important as it is faster changing than other demographic processes such as fertility and mortality and so can impact upon the structure of the population quickly. In this paper we review methods that have been used by other models and describe the choices and methods used in the Pensim2 dynamic microsimulation model. In particular we model immigration flows, emigration flows and the overseas population. We divide our method into modelling how many migrate using external macro data and who emigrates, based upon micro processes.