REMI Webinar Training Series: PI+ 2.3
Clear-headed analysis leads to a fiscally and economically sustainable future, while a lack of analysis exposes regions and states to unforeseen risks. REMI is offering a two-part webinar training series to demystify economic impact modeling and share best approaches for sound policy evaluation.
REMI economic associates Cameron Luther, Jacob Linger, Harry Walsh, and Mike Bobay will describe the fundamentals behind REMI’s PI+ model in order to demonstrate the range of analyses that can be conducted with these tools. This webinar series is designed to show both long-time users and anyone interested in economic modeling the most effective ways of simulating policy changes and telling an economic story through the results.
Session 1: Introduction to REMI 2.3
This training series begins with an introduction to the most advanced generation of our suite of economic models – REMI 2.3. We are prepared to guide attendees through the enhanced user interface, highlight the newest features, and share recommendations on how to make the most of the updated modeling software. Through this webinar, we will provide long-time REMI users with greater familiarity, while also offering new users an overview of the software.
Session 2: Forecasts and Policy Analysis Using REMI PI+
This session guides users through an example policy analysis, beginning with an overview of how the regional forecast is created and how simulations are built on top. The webinar will move on to show how policy variable changes interact with the model to generate dynamic economic and demographic results. We will finish by running a sample policy analysis of translating data and assumptions into a regional simulation. By the end of this session, attendees will understand the assumptions behind the REMI baseline forecast along with how to perform simulations of their own policy analysis scenarios.
Sondra Collins – Expungement and the Mississippi Economy
Forgiving criminal offenses has been suggested throughout the United States as a way of addressing labor and employment deficiencies. Allowing more citizens to enter the workforce can generate social benefits, but researchers and analysts can overlook the potential for economic growth statewide.
REMI will be joined by guest speaker Sondra Collins, Ph.D., Senior Economist from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, for her webinar presentation, “Expungement and the Mississippi Economy,” on Wednesday, October 9th from 2 to 3 p.m. (ET) that explores the link between forgiving past criminal histories and the economic growth in Mississippi.
The state of Mississippi currently stands as the 49th state in terms of lowest unemployment rate while also facilitating the third-highest overall incarceration rate in America. This discrepancy is causing those tasked with improving workforce standards and participation to analyze alternative measures.
Policymakers and activists are often frustrated by the difficulties that those who have been convicted of a crime face when attempting to enter the job market. These difficulties do not appear to lessen over time, which almost creates a lifetime of punishment for, on average, very small offenses.
Dr. Collins will be describing the key findings from her organization’s paper on expungement in Mississippi that examines the change in employment and the state’s review as a result of forgiving the criminal records of a select group of past offenders and making more citizens eligible to work. This webinar will also explain how dynamic economic modeling can generate the socioeconomic and demographic effects of workforce development policies and detail the methodologies implemented in the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning’s analysis.