Professionals, researchers, policymakers, and academics interested in tax and social protection policy analysis are invited to register for the SOUTHMOD Training Course on Microsimulation for Tax and Benefit Analysis in Latin America, taking place 14–16 July 2026 in Quito, Ecuador.

Organized by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) in collaboration with Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO Ecuador), Universidad del Pacífico, the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics (LSE), and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana’s Observatorio Fiscal, this three-day hybrid training programme provides participants with practical skills in using tax-benefit microsimulation models to evaluate fiscal policies.

The training is completely free of charge, open to all eligible participants, and will be delivered entirely in Spanish.

Registration Status

Registration is currently open.

Training Dates

14 July 2026 – 16 July 2026

Venue

Quito, Ecuador

The course will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend either in person or through virtual participation.

About the SOUTHMOD Training Course

The SOUTHMOD training course is designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in using microsimulation models to analyze the impact of tax and social benefit policies across Latin America.

Participants will learn how to evaluate how different fiscal policies affect:

• Household income
• Poverty levels
• Income inequality
• Government revenues
• Social protection outcomes
• Distribution of taxes and benefits

The programme focuses on practical applications that support evidence-based policymaking and economic research.

What is SOUTHMOD?

SOUTHMOD is an internationally recognized research initiative that develops, updates, and maintains tax-benefit microsimulation models for low- and middle-income countries.

These models combine:

• Household income data
• Household expenditure data
• National tax legislation
• Social benefit policies

Using these datasets, researchers and policymakers can simulate proposed policy changes before implementation and estimate their likely economic and social impacts.

This makes SOUTHMOD an essential tool for governments, researchers, and development organizations seeking to design more effective fiscal and social protection policies.

Countries Covered by the Training

This training focuses on four Latin American microsimulation models:

• ECUAMOD (Ecuador)
• COLMOD (Colombia)
• BOLMOD (Bolivia)
• PERUMOD (Peru)

Participants will gain practical experience using these country-specific models to assess tax and benefit reforms.

What Participants Will Learn

Throughout the three-day programme, participants will receive practical instruction on how to:

• Use tax-benefit microsimulation software.
• Analyze household-level income and expenditure data.
• Evaluate fiscal policy reforms.
• Estimate poverty impacts.
• Measure inequality outcomes.
• Assess government revenue implications.
• Compare alternative tax and social benefit scenarios.
• Interpret simulation results for policymaking.

The course emphasizes applied learning through real-world examples and hands-on exercises.

Who Should Attend?

The programme is intended for both experienced and first-time SOUTHMOD users.

Ideal participants include:

• Government officials involved in fiscal policy.
• Public finance specialists.
• Social policy analysts.
• Academic researchers.
• University lecturers.
• Think tank professionals.
• Public institution analysts.
• Graduate students interested in tax and social policy.

Anyone interested in evidence-based policymaking and fiscal analysis is encouraged to participate.

Why Tax-Benefit Microsimulation Matters

Tax-benefit microsimulation has become one of the most valuable tools for governments and researchers because it enables policymakers to test the likely consequences of policy reforms before implementation.

These models help answer important policy questions, including:

• How will a proposed tax reform affect low-income households?
• Which social benefit programme is most effective at reducing poverty?
• What impact will policy changes have on government revenues?
• How will inequality change under different fiscal scenarios?

Such evidence supports smarter, fairer, and more efficient public policy decisions.

Global Reach of SOUTHMOD

UNU-WIDER currently hosts fourteen tax-benefit microsimulation models covering countries across multiple regions.

Africa

• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Mozambique
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia

Latin America

• Bolivia
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Peru

Southeast Asia

• Viet Nam

Other

• Zanzibar

These models complement previously developed systems for South Africa and Namibia, making SOUTHMOD one of the world’s leading tax-benefit microsimulation initiatives for developing economies.

Organizing Institutions

The training course is jointly organized by:

• United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO Ecuador)
• Universidad del Pacífico
• International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics (LSE)
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana – Observatorio Fiscal

This collaboration brings together leading experts in economics, public finance, social policy, and fiscal analysis.

Benefits of Participating

Participants will benefit from:

• Free professional training.
• Practical hands-on learning.
• Hybrid participation options.
• Exposure to internationally recognized policy tools.
• Improved analytical skills.
• Better understanding of tax-benefit modelling.
• Networking opportunities with researchers and policymakers.
• Knowledge applicable to fiscal policy design and evaluation.
• Enhanced research and policy analysis capabilities.

Why You Should Register

Whether you work in government, academia, public policy, or development research, this course offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen your expertise in tax-benefit microsimulation and evidence-based fiscal policymaking.

By learning to use SOUTHMOD, participants will gain practical skills that can support better policy design, improve social protection systems, and contribute to reducing poverty and inequality across developing countries.

Registration is free, and interested participants are encouraged to secure their place before the programme begins on 14 July 2026.

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