GTAP-U

Course Catalog

GTAP University (GTAP-U): 2013 GTAP 101 Course

2013 GTAP 101 Course
"Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Modeling"


General Information
Date: October 14 - November 17, 2013
Location: Online Delivery
Offered by: Center for Global Trade Analysis, Purdue University


Course Content
Objective
The objective of the GTAP 101 course is to engage participants in an active, team-based process of learning about the GTAP computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and its use in applied economic policy analysis. The curriculum emphasizes an intuitive and graphical treatment of economic theory in the CGE model, and provides structured experiences in manipulating and running the standard GTAP Model within the RunGTAP software environment. RunGTAP is an intuitive, menu-driven CGE model that minimizes technological hurdles and allows students to quickly begin to focus on their economic thinking and experimentation. The curriculum is geared to advanced undergraduates, graduates and professionals. At the end of the course, participants will be entry-level modelers and more informed consumers of CGE-based analyses. The course also serves as an entry point for developing the technical skills required for the GTAP Short Course.

During the online course, participants will:
  • review core economic theories from macro, micro, trade and public finance and observe how they are operationalized in an applied general equilibrium model;
  • learn to recognize, control and interpret the theoretically consistent behavior of consumers and producers in the model;
  • observe the aggregated, macroeconomic impacts of microeconomic behaviors;
  • define model experiments that represent real-world issues and problems; and
  • learn to interpret general equilibrium model results by calling on and integrating their knowledge of multiple fields of economic study.

Structure
The course is fully delivered online, lasting five weeks and is supported by the textbook, Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Models (Burfisher, 2011), which will be provided to all participants. Additional learning resources include audio lectures, guided video simulations, and assessments. Much of the learning will take place through active discussions among the participants and instructor, which are carried out as asynchronous, threaded conversations on the classroom bulletin board. Topics covered in this course include: Database, Demand, Supply, Factor Markets, Trade and Taxes. The course culminates in a group research project which provides participants with a hands-on opportunity to carry out a model experiment and analyze its economy-wide effects.


Course Graduates
10 individuals from 10 different countries completed the 2013 GTAP 101 Course.





Last Modified: 3/2/2023 9:15:44 AM