Solution Software for CGE Modeling

We describe the progress of computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling software since the 1980s and contrast the main systems used today: GAMS, MPSGE, and GEMPACK. The development of these general-purpose modeling systems has underpinned rapid growth in the use of CGE models and allowed models to be shared and their results replicated. We show how a very simple model may be implemented and solved in all 3 systems. We note that they produce the same numerical results but have different strengths. We conclude by considering some challenges for the future