Directory: Social policy simulation database and model - Version 9.0 License: Access restricted to University of Saskatchewan faculty, staff and students for non-commercial study and research by DLI license agreement. http://library.usask.ca/data/dli/dlilicense.html Version 9.0 is now available This new and improved version includes an updated database based on 1997 survey and administrative data and is capable of modeling the tax/transfer system for all years from 1988 through 2005. The following is a summary of major changes: Database The new database has been built from 1997 micro data files. This is the last year of the Survey of Consumers Finance and future versions of the SPSD will be built from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID). New EI variables based on administrative data have been added for hours worked and for new/re-entrant status. An improved statistical match was developed between the Survey of Household Spending and the SPSD. Tax/Transfer Programs Updates to the algorithms fully reflect the federal and provincial 2000 tax forms, and 2001 federal and provincial budgets to date. The 15 year old extensive codebase has been simplified to ease understandability and modification of algorithms. All algorithms and parameters for tax and transfer systems prior to 1988 have been removed, notably the tax systems that contained personal deductions instead of tax credits. Parameter growth is based on the latest data from the System of National Accounts (2000). EI code has been revised and the federal Seniors Benefit code has been removed. Users with 32-bit systems (NT/2000 or Win95/98/ME) can access all documentation on-line using the included windows help file. The directory "/Doc" on the CD-ROM contains a printable version of all guides for those users who wish printed versions of the other guides. These are PDF files and can be read on-line or printed using the Adobe Acrobat reader. The Adobe Acrobat reader can be installed from the /Doc directory on the CD-ROM. The self-extracting installation program is called ar32e301.exe for 32-bit systems. Once you have installed Adobe Acrobat on your system you can simply navigate to the \Doc directory on the CD-ROM using Explorer. Find the guide you wish to view or print and double-click it. Adobe will start up and open the file you selected. All the documentation is revised and covers all parameters and variables. The Addendum describes the new features of Version 9.0, all the new algorithms and the differences between Version 8.1 and Version 9.0. Also in the Addendum are instructions on how to upgrade your installation. The Version 9.0 of the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model must be installed subject to the terms of your licence agreement. Users of Windows-95/98/ME or Windows NT/2000 should install the program by using the Run... dialog box. Type in :\install.exe followed by the drive where SPSD/M will be installed. For example, if your drive is C: and if you wish to install SPSD/M in your D: drive, then you should enter: ex: C:\Install.exe D: For more information please refer to the Installation guide. ************************************************************** ERRATA: November 7, 2001 Version 9.0 of the SPSD/M was made available Monday October 1st, 2001. The same day, the province of Ontario announced changes to their tax system. The changes were not included in the parameter files for Version 9.0. Ontario announced that the tax cuts previously scheduled to commence on January 1, 2002 would be accelerated and now take effect starting October 1, 2001. As such, the changes affect only the parameter files for the year 2001. Statistics Canada has prepared new parameter files reflecting the changes in Ontario. Users wishing to update their \spsd directory should undertake the following steps: 1) Delete the 'read only' ba01.mpr and ba01_97.mpr files from your \spsd directory 2) Copy the new files to your \spsd directory 3) Make sure the 'read only' attribute is set on the new files (In Windows Explorer/MyComputer right-click on the file, select properties, check 'read only') Documention: Download: November 7, 2001 WL.