In the past fifteen years, microsimulation models have become firmly established as vital tools for analysis of the distributional impact of changes in governmental programmes. Across Europe, the US, Canada and Australia, microsimulation models are used extensively to assess who are the winners and losers from proposed policy reforms; this is now expanding into new frontiers, both geographically and in terms of policy areas. With contributions from more than 60 international experts, this volume offers a comprehensive introduction to the state of microsimulation internationally, illustrating a wide range of new applications and approaches. It will be of relevance to government policy makers, social policy planners, economists and those concerned with predicting the impact of public policy change and to academics in a variety of disciplines, especially social and public policy, human geography, development studies and economics.

'Overall, the contributions presented in this volume give a very good overview of the state-of-the-art in microsimulation modelling. The volume may be useful for at least two different tasks. Firstly, it could be a reference for those already working in the area of microsimulation who are searching for guidance towards specific topics. Secondly, it could be useful for those interested in building a microsimulation model, since the selection of papers provides a broad overview of the scope but also about the potential pitfalls associated with model building.' The Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation

Asghar Zaidi is Director of Research at the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria and Senior Economist in the Social Policy Division of the Dirctorate of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France. He has previously worked as an Economic Advisor to the British government's Department for Work and Pensions and he contributed to the government's dynamic microsimulation model, PENSIM_II. He is Vice President of the International Microsimulation Association. Ann Harding is Professor of Applied Economics and Social Policy and Director of National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) at the UNiversity of Canberra, Australia. She is an internationally recognised expert in the fields of microsimulation modelling, income distribution and tax/transfer policy, with four published books in the field, and experience of working on major policy reviews in several Federal government departments. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and has been President of the International Microsimulation Association since 2003. Paul Willliamson is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Liverpool, UK. He is the editor of the International Journal of Microsimulation.