A South African tax-benefit Microsimulation Model (SAMOD)

In collaboration with ISER at the University of Essex, SASPRI has developed a stand-alone version of the South African tax-benefit microsimulation model SAMOD. The model is a static microsimulation model and is derived from the EUROMOD platform developed by a team at the University of Essex led by Prof Holly Sutherland. This new version does not require the prior installation of Microsoft Office as previous versions have done. Work to update the model and undertake training with government departments has been funded by UNU-WIDER as part of the SOUTHMOD project . The model has been shared with the South African national Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency, The South African National Treasury, and the South African Revenue Service. Training has been conducted to enable government to make use of the model to inform the policy-making process.