2016-2 GTAP 101 Course: “Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Modeling”

September 12 – October 28, 2016 

The 2016-2 GTAP 101 Course is being organized by the Center for Global Trade Analysis and will be delivered fully online, led by Dr. Mary Burfisher.

What GTAP 101 "Graduates" Are Saying...

• "I attended several CGE courses before and this GTAP 101 course is one of the best courses available. Mary has done a good job. 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 teacher 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. Mary and the entire GTAP 101 team were very helpful and professional."

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, 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.

Application

Individuals interested in taking this course must apply on the GTAP website April 1-June 26, 2016. Applications will be reviewed after the deadline and those individuals accepted will receive an email detailing how to register and submit payment in August. Please note that application does not guarantee acceptance.

Cost

The registration fees for this course are detailed below and include the course textbook as well as instruction during the online course.

• $1,400 (Standard Rate: Developed Country Professionals)
• $600 (Discounted Rate: All Current Students and Developing Country Professionals)
• $100 (Scholarship Rate: A limited number of scholarships are available to applicants residing in a developing country.)

For further information or to apply, please visit the course homepage on the GTAP website at: http://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu/events/GTAP101/2016-2/.

Call for Applications: Managing Editor of the Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

The AAEA Executive Board invites applications for one Managing Editor for Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (AEPP). The degree to which candidate’s expertise complements that of the continuing editors, will be considered in the selection process. AAEA is particularly interested in candidates who will bring ideas and innovations for helping AEPP to further its mission. Information about AEPP, its policies and mission is available at www.aaea.org/publications/aepp.

Managing Editor Responsibilities

The Managing Editor will work with an editorial team comprised of two additional Submitted Article Editors to manage the manuscript review process. The Managing Editor responsibilities include:

• Development and management of Featured Articles
• Submitted manuscript management which includes but is not limited to monitoring review timelines and distribution of submissions
• Oversight of special projects such as special issues and supplements
• Manage communications between editors
• Liaise on behalf of the journal with OUP and the AAEA Board

The AEPP editorial process employs electronic submission of manuscripts and interchange between editors and reviewers. An electronic system that tracks manuscripts through submission, review, and editorial decision is used by the editors for managing work flow. Authors can also query this system for email reports on the status in the editorial process of a submitted manuscript. The editors also oversee the work of Oxford University Press in preparing copy for printing and reviewing proofs.

The new editor should be prepared to begin on January 1, 2017. There may be some training and coordination work starting around November 1, 2016.

Application Requirements

Applications should include:

• A statement of editorial philosophy and ideas for furthering the journal's goals,
•  Indication of the candidate’s principal areas of expertise to support the AEPP’s mission,
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of administrative and financial support to be provided by the host institution.

AAEA will provide financial assistance to defray some portion of the editor’s time and most expenses.
Applications should be sent electronically via PDF to Brian Mondragón Jones, Executive Director, at bmjones@aaea.org by May 1, 2016. Decisions will be made by early June.
Third-party nominations of potentially interested candidates who can then be solicited for their materials are also welcome.

Call for Applications: Editorship of the Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

The AAEA Executive Board invites applications for one editor for Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (AEPP) to serve from 2017 through 2019. This call for applications is for an editor to manage Submitted Articles which contain original research results addressing real-world problems with sound research approaches and/or have strong policy relevance within the subject matter of the journal. The degree to which candidate’s expertise complements that of the continuing editors, will be considered in the selection process. AAEA is particularly interested in candidates who will bring ideas and innovations for helping AEPP to further its mission.

Submitted articles will meet the normal standards for scholarly publication, but should also be accessible to the broader audience of agricultural and applied economists working outside academia. Submitted articles should emphasize one or more of the following: a) practical implications for public policy; b) clarification of research implications so as to maximize accessibility and cross-fertilization across specific areas of research; c) empirical comparison of competing theories, explanations, and approaches that can refine future research; and d) development of fruitful directions for future research. Additional information about the AEPP, its policies and mission is available at www.aaea.org/publications/aepp .

The editor will work with an editorial team comprised of another Submitted Articles Editor, and a Managing Editor to manage the manuscript review process. The Submitted Articles Editors are responsible for day-to-day issues relating to submitted articles, assisting with development of the Special Issues, and revising editorial policy. The AEPP editorial process employs electronic submission of manuscripts and interchange between editors and reviewers. An electronic system that tracks manuscripts through submission, review, and editorial decision is used by the editors for managing work flow. Authors can also query this system for e-mail reports on the status in the editorial process of a submitted manuscript. The editors also oversee the work of Oxford University Press in preparing copy for printing and reviewing proofs.

The new editor should be prepared to begin on January 1, 2017. There may be some training and coordination work starting around November 1. Applications should include a statement of editorial philosophy and ideas for furthering the journal's goals, an indication of the candidate’s principal areas of expertise to support the AEPP’s mission, a curriculum vitae, and a statement of administrative and financial support to be provided by the host institution. AAEA will provide financial assistance to defray some portion of the editor’s time and most expenses. Applications should be sent electronically via PDF to Brian Mondragón Jones, Executive Director, at bmjones@aaea.org by May 1, 2016. Decisions will be made by early June. Third-party nominations of potentially interested candidates who can then be solicited for their materials are also welcome.

AAEA Trust Profile: Sylvan Herskowitz

Sylvan Herskowitz
University of California - Berkeley