2.1. Introduction

2.1.1. The DYNAMIS-POP Model and Modeling Platform

This guide gives a non-technical introduction to the use of the dynamic microsimulation model DYNAMIS-POP. DYNAMIS-POP is a customizable, modular microsimulation platform for socio-demographic projections portable to most developing countries. We introduce the use of DYNAMIS-POP version 2.22 “out of the box” - i.e. as is without any adaptations or extensions for specific applications or contexts. For testing and training purposes we provide a model implementation for an imaginary country together with a starting population file and a full set of parameters (-> “Download Materials”). The use of DYNAMIS-POP is demonstrated by application examples which can be directly replicated.

This guide is organized in three parts:

• We first introduce the Graphical User Interface (GUI) by means of a quick tour covering the most important aspects of using DYNAMIS-POP: opening a scenario, making changes to settings and parameters, running simulations, navigating through the table output and its views, and saving new scenarios together with the simulation results. This part complements the in-built help system of the model software which gives a more detailed and fuller description of the GUI.
• We then briefly describe each of the DYNAMIS-POP modules from a user’s perspective. For each module we list and explain all corresponding parameter tables as well as the default output tables. We also give examples of how parameters can be changed for creating meaningful new scenarios. This part complements the detailed step-by-step implementation guide and the documentation of the statistical analysis for parameter estimation available at the project website, as well as the encyclopedic model documentation accessible from the DYNAMIS-POP help system.
• By means of replicable exercises we give analysis examples of the use of DYNAMIS-POP for (1) the analysis of downstream effects of educational improvements, (2) projections of immunization rates. All analysis is performed interactively based on table output and by using Excel for ex-post analysis and visualization. This part complements the documentation of ex-post analysis, scenario comparisons and visualizations integrated into an automated work-flow using statistical software available on the project website.

This User Guide is meant as a general introduction of how to use DYNAMSI-POP and does not cover model uses and adaptations which require programming. DYNAMSI-POP is designed as a highly flexible, modular and extendable modeling platform easily adaptable to specific needs. Easy adaptations include adding output tables and changing or extending parameter dimensions. More complex adaptations include the development of alternative modules replacing available modules or being provided as additional option selected by the user. And of course new modules can be added.

The data provided with this guide are of an imaginary country and were generated for demonstrational purposes only. Parameters and the starting population were estimated and created the same way as when porting the model to a new country, just that we used synthetic data replacing the standard micro-data files otherwise generated from real micro-data. All data steps are reproducible and documented in the technical report.