SSASIM
- a social security policy simulation model under continuous
development since 1994, when started as part of Advisory
Council's work
- development funded by many organizations, including SSA,
GAO, EBRI, AARP, IMF, Concord Coalition, and Policy Simulation
Group
- two models in one: macro model of aggregate
program finances, and embedded micro model of
cohort individuals that can represent a wide range of
policy reforms including individual accounts
- changes in assumptions and policy accomplished by altering
values of parameters in a thoroughly documented input database,
rather than having to reprogram model's logic
- macro model: operates in cell-based
actuarial (CBA) mode by default, or in overlapping cohorts (OLC)
mode with the optional PENSIM and
GEMINI add-ons; both modes represent
systemic risks facing program using stochastic (Monte Carlo)
simulation of key demographic and economic assumptions plus
equity returns; produces output like in Trustees Reports;
four-page introduction OASDI Solvency Estimation using the
PSG Models (psg-solv.pdf) prepared for Social Security Advisory Board
- micro model: operates in exemplary cohort
individuals (ECI) mode by default, or in representative cohort
sample (RCS) mode with the optional
PENSIM and
GEMINI add-ons; both modes use logic
similar to other microsimulation models of birth cohorts; both
modes project all systemic risks simulated by macro model onto
individuals; RCS mode also represents idiosyncratic risks facing
individuals regarding mortality, disability, labor force
participation, earnings fluctuations, marriage, divorce, and
childbirth; both modes produce a wide array of benefit adequacy
and contribution return (i.e., "money's worth") statistics for
individuals and couples; four-page introduction OASDI
Distributional Estimation using the PSG Models
(psg-dist.pdf) prepared for Social Security Advisory Board
- introductory information is in two short documents:
Getting Started with the PSG Models
(psghelp.pdf) and
Getting Started with the SSASIM RSF Toolkit
(rsfhelp.pdf); more
detailed information is in SSASIM Guide
(guide.pdf) and in a
SSA-commissioned paper on stochastic simulation
methods (stochsim.pdf)
Complete SSASIM Installation Package for Windows 2000/XP
- important installation details and version differences are
explained in Getting Started with the PSG Models
(psghelp.pdf)
- free educational version of SSASIM requires no registration
or subscription fee, but has some limitations
- standard version of SSASIM requires registration and
subscription fee
- complete installation package for 5/12/08
educational or standard version:
install-SSASIM.exe
Recent SSASIM Upgrade Packages for Registered SSASIM Users
Who Already Have Complete SSASIM Installation
- upgrade package is not a complete installation
- upgrade instructions sent via email
- upgrade packages for versions dated:
2/27/08
3/26/08
4/17/08
5/12/08
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