GTAP University (GTAP-U): 2023-2 GTAP 101 Course

2023-2 GTAP 101 Course

"Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Modeling in the GTAP Framework"

General Information
Dates: September 4 - October 22, 2023
Location: GTAP 101 is delivered fully online. There is no onsite component to this course.
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 running the standard GTAP Model, v7 within the RunGTAP software environment. RunGTAP is an intuitive, menu-driven CGE model interface that minimizes technological hurdles and allows course participants to quickly begin to focus on their economic thinking and experimentation. The curriculum is geared to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, 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 and other courses offered through GTAP-U.

During the online course, participants will:
  • review core economic theories from micro, macro, 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 GTAP model
  • observe the aggregated, macroeconomic impacts of microeconomic behavior
  • define model experiments that represent real-world issues
  • learn to interpret general equilibrium model results by integrating their knowledge of multiple fields of economic study

Structure
The course is delivered fully online and supported by the textbook, Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Models, 3e, the eBook version of which will be provided to all participants. Additional learning resources include audio-visual lectures, guided video simulations, and assessments. Since participants will be located all around the world, there are no set meeting times for the course. Much of the learning will take place through active discussions over question/answer among the participants and instructor, which are carried out as asynchronous, threaded conversations on the classroom discussion board. Topics covered during the course are detailed below, culminating in a group research project that provides participants with a hands-on opportunity to carry out a model experiment and analyze its economy-wide effects.


Content Overview
  • Week 1 - "Getting Started"
    • Participants download and familiarize themselves with the course website, material, and software
  • Week 2 - "Database of a CGE Model"
    • Introduction to the GTAP SAM and RunGTAP Modeling Platform
  • Week 3 - "Demand"
    • Introduction to Final Demand and Import Demand in the GTAP Model
    • Change a Closure and an Elasticity
  • Week 4 - "Supply and Factor Markets"
    • Introduction to Production in the GTAP Model
  • Week 5 - "Trade and Welfare"
    • Introduction to Taxes and Welfare in the GTAP Model
  • Week 6 - "Group Research Project"
    • Hands-on opportunity to carry out a model replication experiment and analyze its economy-wide effects
  • Week 7 - "Wrap-Up and Evaluation"
    • Final discussions and course evaluation

Time Commitment
Participants should expect to spend approximately 10-12 hours/week on this course.


What GTAP 101 "Graduates" Are Saying...

"Thanks to you and your team for facilitating a great course! I thoroughly enjoyed the new insights and learning of a what I consider to be a very handy tool."

"My goal for taking the course was to gain a better idea of how the GTAP CGE model produces its results. The online course met this goal and gave a very good overview of how CGE models operate in general. The material was clear and easy to understand, the exercises gave good hands on experience, and the instructor was very helpful!"

"I attended several CGE courses before and this GTAP 101 course is one of the best courses available. This course is well organized and extremely informative. I would like to recommend anyone who is interested in CGE modelling to take this course."

"Thank you for opening a new world of modelling."

"The text book is very clear, detailed and the instruction is excellent!"

"It has been very nice experience to learn GTAP models with such an interactive way. I appreciate many advises for my questions. Thank you very much."

"I really enjoyed the course and the class interactions. The instructor and the entire GTAP 101 team were very helpful and professional."

"Overall the course was very well structured and I would highly recommend it!"
Course Graduates
22 individuals from 12 different countries completed the 2023-2 GTAP 101 Course.
Last Modified: Friday, April 3, 2026