Regional Economic Modeling: A Systematic Approach to Economic Forecasting and Policy Analysis, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993

Regional economic models are the key to predicting the effects of transportation, economic development, energy, fiscal and environmental policies. Despite this, the principal regional economic policy analysis model used throughout the United States by government agencies, universities, and the private sector has not been presented in a book until now.
The approach to building, understanding and using regional models presented in Regional Economic Models: A Systematic Approach toForecasting and Policy Analysis is progressive. It begins with the simplest possible models and concludes with a full presentation of the leading model used by policy makers today. The full details are presented along with facilitating software, which is made available so that the reader can build a prototype model for any state or country and can perform policy simulations with full operational models for a sample area. Policy studies are discussed that have been carried out with the model, as well as the range of ways in which policies can be tested through policy simulations.
The necessary background is developed for understanding the ways in which models can be used to improve the basis upon which policies are evaluated, as well as the sensitivity of the predicted effects to the model chosen for the analysis. The presentation is multifaceted and includes equations, diagrams and numerical examples. The professional literature is integrated with introductory materials to produce the first comprehensive book on regional modeling that extends from economic base models to modeling advances that are currently being published in economic journals.

1. Introduction. Part I: Homogeneous Models. 2. Economic Base Models. 3. A Prototype Model. 4. Forecasting and Simulation with a Prototype Model. 5. Alternative Model Specifications. Part II: Heterogeneous Models. 6. Regional Input-Output Models. 7. The Specification of an Operational Forecasting and Simulation Model. 8. Regional and Multi-Regional Forecasts and Simulations Using a REMI EDFS Model. 9. Forecasting and Simulation Sensitivity to Alternative Model Specifications. Part III: Applications and Summary. 10. Policy Analysis Applications of Forecasting and Simulation Models. 11. A Regional and Multi-Regional Modeling Strategy. Glossary. References. Index.

George I. Treyz is Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts and President of Regional Economic Models, Inc. He received his B.A. from Princeton University and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He has led in the development of regional economic policy analysis modeling since introducing the first model based on this methodology in the late 1970s. He has directed the design, estimation and implementation of models for hundreds of sub-national areas in the United States, as well as providing guidance in their ongoing use for forecasting and policy simulation.