1. Introduction
ESCAP has developed a microsimulation model, the SPOT Simulator, that enables users to examine the impact of different design features of non-contributory schemes on poverty, consumption, inequality and cost. Drawing on Household Income and Expenditure Surveys, the Simulator calculates the impact of providing non-contributory child, disability, maternity and old age benefits on development outcomes at the household and population level. Presented in a user-friendly manner, it aims to make data around social protection policy options more accessible for policy makers.
The SPOT Simulator is a tool to support countries in building stronger, more inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems in Asia and the Pacific. The half-day workshop will introduce the SPOT Simulator and enhance understanding of its functions and relevance to supporting policy making on social protection.
2. Objectives
Through the Workshop on the ESCAP’s SPOT Simulator, participants would:
- Understand the SPOT Simulator design parameters of social protection schemes and tailor parameter settings
- Identify impact of universal social protection benefits have on poverty, consumption, and inequality, consumption and coverage
- Estimate costs of social protection schemes as proportion of GDP and government revenue
- Understand how SPOT Simulator input variables are prepared based on survey data and learn how to reproduce simulation results using Stata
- Provide input on how Simulator could be used to support policymaking in the country
3. Participants
Participants were key stakeholders in relevant line ministries and development partners working on social protection.
4. Format
The Workshop involved interactive exercises. Participants of the introductory session were requested to bring their laptops. Participants of the technical session were additionally requested to bring their laptops, with statistical software Stata and MS Excel installed.