Modeling demographic-economic interactions: Micro, macro and linked micro/macro strategies

The inherent limitations of group-based macro modeling preclude a realistis behavioral representation of regional demographic-economic interactions. Such a harsh assessment is unwelcome news to regional modelers, who for the most part have been relying on group-based macro strategies. This paper addresses the issue of choosing the most appropriate approach to regional demographic-economic modeling by emphasizing once again the severe limitations of group-based macro models for representing population behavior, advocating instead the use of sample-based micro models for representing population behavior and suggesting that a linked macro/micro strategy for modeling demographic-economic interactions might combine the advantages of both modeling methodologies.