We propose a new approach which generalizes and improves principal component analysis (PCA) and its recent advances. The approach is based on the following underlying ideas. PCA can be reformulated as a technique which provides the best linear estimator of the fixed rank for random vectors. By...

In practical applications of micro-simulation models (MSMs), very little is usually known about the properties of the simulated values. This paper argues that we need to apply the same rigorous standards for inference in micro-simulation work as in scientific work generally. If not, then MSMs...

Micro simulation involves modeling the behavior of individuals and other decision units taking into account the effects of policy parameters such as tax rates, eligibility rules for benefits and subsidies and compensation rates in the social security system. The model is simulated to analyze the...