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...

Intertemporal modelling is becoming increasingly important in general equilibrium policy analysis. Issues such as natural resource management, pollution control, investment, the promotion of technical change, and the accumulation of foreign debt all involve explicit intertemporal behavior and...

Considers the solution of large systems of linear equations, such as those arising from a large linearized economic model. Recommends (a) that matrix inversion be avoided, in favour of LU methods; and (b) that sparsity in the system be exploited using special computer subroutines. Some examples...

This paper describes a practical and conceptually simple iterative method for solving large dynamic CGE models under rational expectations. Details are given for the MONASH model of Australia but the general approach could be applied to a wide range of dynamic models. The method has been...

Many modern Windows PCs now have two or more processors. These PCs cost little more than a PC with a single processor. If you are solving a model accurately using GEMPACK, you will usually extrapolate from 2 or 3 multi-step calculations (for example, from Gragg 2-step, 4-step and 6-step...

MONASH-USA (also known as USAGE-ITC) is a detailed dynamic general equilibrium model of the U.S. developed by the Centre of Policy Studies in collaboration with the U.S. International Trade Commission. This paper reports on the theoretical developments completed for a project intended to (a) add...

When a general equilibrium model is solved, there are often a large number of exogenous shocks. The change in each endogenous variable obviously depends on these different shocks. We point out a natural way of decomposing the changes (or percentage changes) in the endogenous variables as sums of...

This paper focuses on one way a linearized representation of a nonlinear economic model can be used to obtain arbitrarily accurate solutions to simulations. The key is a method for translating a simulation problem directly to a so-called initial value problem. Since many different methods for...

We analyse changes in the Australian gas industry during 1990s that were driven by the Hilmer Reforms. We estimate the direct and indirect effects on household income of these gas industry changes by combining a computable general equilibrium model with a microsimulation model in a two-stage...

This paper examines methods aimed at improving baseline economic forecasts using a dynamic CGE model. Forecasting can be used to test the validity of such models, as well as to highlight possible improvements, by investigating the discrepancies between the forecast and actual outcomes. The model...