Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Models

“Climate change, agricultural subsidies, high food prices, global and regional trade agreements, killer diseases, misaligned exchange rates – the major policy debates of our time – are increasingly analyzed using computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. Mary Burfisher’s book opens up the ‘black box’ of these models and provides a lucid introduction to their economic underpinnings, their data and modeling assumptions, and their application to public policy. This book will lead to better informed producers and consumers of CGE models and, we hope, better policy decisions.” – Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist, World Bank

“CGE models are a key tool for illuminating how policy can help both developed and developing countries address many challenges of our time, including environmental change, labor migration, and poverty reduction. This well-written volume is a most welcome addition to the literature, as it is hands-on and designed for teaching CGE modeling in advanced undergraduate economics classes and other settings.” – Hans Lofgren, Senior Economist, World Bank

“CGE models are now widely deployed by academic researchers, national governments, and international organizations to address an increasing variety of problems, from trade liberalization to climate change and even natural disasters. There have been many ‘introductions’ to this style of modeling over the years, but none of these has supplied the accessibility, intuition, and coherence of Mary Burfisher’s new book. A generation of students and professional learners will be in her debt.” – Kenneth A. Reinert, George Mason University

“This book is based on extensive teaching experience and is an excellent introduction to the theory and practice of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. It links the models to policy issues, describing the relevant theory and examples of CGE analysis of particular issues, and it also provides students with hands-on experience with models based on the GTAP modeling system.” – Sherman Robinson, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and International Food Policy Research Institute

“CGE has emerged in recent years as an indispensable tool for applied analysis of a wide range of economic policy issues. Indeed an understanding of CGE models is now an important component of the applied economist’s toolkit. For this reason, this new book by Burfisher makes a welcome and valued contribution.” – Joseph Francois, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz