GTAP University (GTAP-U): 2019 GTAP Firm Heterogeneity (GTAP-HET) Course
2019 GTAP Firm Heterogeneity (GTAP-HET) Course
"Applied Policy Analysis with Advanced Trade Theories"
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Course Content
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Objective
The GTAP-HET Course is a hands-on, fully-online course developed to provide professional economists and Masters/PhD students with the tools and skills necessary to use advanced trade theories in trade policy analysis. During the course, participants will:
- learn about the Melitz model of heterogenous firms, viewed as a more general version of the Krugman model of monopolistic competition, and Armington model with perfect competition;
- develop skills to use the GTAP Firm Heterogeneity (GTAP-HET) Model where Armington, Krugman, and Melitz models are nested in the GTAP computable general equilibrium framework;
- conduct trade policy experiments and interpret simulation results using the GTAP-HET Model in team-based research projects.
Structure
The GTAP-HET Course is delivered fully online and is designed to target four specific learning methods: READ, LISTEN, DO, and DISCUSS. where participants are expected to:
- READ the assigned papers to have a solid background in firm heterogeneity theory,
- LISTEN to the video lectures that highlight the theory and estimation in firm heterogeneity models as well as how to implement them in GTAP,
- DO the assignments and research projects to develop the hands-on experience required for applying the learned material in policy analysis,
- DISCUSS the new material and related questions on the bulletin board with course participants.
Content Overview
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Week 1 - "Getting Started"
- Participants download and familiarize themselves with the course website, material, and software
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Week 2 - "Introduction to Firm Heterogeneity"
- New economic behavior introduced in the Melitz model
- Differences across Armington, Krugman, and Melitz models
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Week 3 - "Firm Heterogeneity in GTAP"
- Supply-side and demand-side changes in GTAP to implement firm heterogeneity
- New and modified equations in the code
- Simulation exercises with a stylized GTAP-HET Model
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Week 4 - "Data and Parameter Needs in GTAP-HET"
- Methods of estimation/calibration of key parameters in GTAP-HET
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Week 5 - "Group Research Project"
- Replication of simulation results with a tariff cut scenario in a 2x3 stylized GTAP-HET model based on Akgul et al. (2016)
- Extension/analysis of the Akgul et al. (2016) simulation OR extension/analysis using a different data/aggregation
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Week 6 - "Wrap-Up and Evaluation"
- Final discussions and course evaluation
Time Commitment
Participants should expect to spend approximately 10-12 hours/week on this course.
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Course Graduates
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8 individuals from 4 different countries completed the 2019 GTAP-HET Course.
- Belenkiy, Maksim
Department of Commerce, United States
- Creason, Jared
US EPA, United States
- Meng, Xue
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China
- Onyango, Christopher Hugh
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Zambia
- Rasmussen, Chris
US Department of Commerce, United States
- Richards, Julian
Department of Commerce, United States
- Sen, Rahul
AUT Department of Economics and Finance, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
- Soroka, Natalie
International Trade Administration, United States
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Last Modified: Wednesday, March 15, 2023