Practical CGE Course Japan, 14-18 September 2026, Nagoya City University

Basic information

Dates: 14-18 September, 2026.
Location: Nagoya City University, Takiko Campus.
Refreshments: Lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided.
Laptops: Participants need to bring their own Windows laptop, and install GEMPACK before the course.
Cost:

Price USD	Type of participant
$1500	Student
$2000	Academic
$3200	Government/Other
$5000	Commercial

Registration: To register for the course please email To: louise.pinchen@vu.edu.au AND CC: itakura@econ.nagoya-cu.ac.jp, michael.jerie@vu.edu.au. For each participant please include name, email, organisation (eg. university, government department, firm), and country of residence. You will recieve payment information by reply email.
More information: Please contact Michael Jerie, Ken Itakura

Summary

The Graduate School of Economics, Nagoya City University, in conjunction with the Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia, will offer an intensive one-week course introducing participants to computable general equilibrium modelling and GEMPACK software.

The course focuses on a the ORANI-G model of the Japanese economy, based on 2020 IO data. ORANI-G (a generic version of the ORANI model of Australia) has been used as the basis of many single-country models, including models of Thailand, China, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, the Philippines and Denmark. GEMPACK software is used by research workers in hundreds of different locations in about 90 countries around the world.

The course should appeal to

those needing background in order to work with, or understand results from, a typical CGE model like ORANI-G;
those wishing to use the theory of ORANI-G with GEMPACK as the basis for a model of a country other than Japan;
those wishing to get sufficient background in order to learn about multi-regional, dynamic and/or forecasting models such as the TERM or VURM models of Australia or the USAGE model of USA. This course provides the background assumed in more advanced CoPS courses relating to those multi-regional or dynamic models.

Course Outline

The course aims to introduce participants to the ideas and techniques of CGE modelling, and to equip them to start using, adapting or constructing CGE models for their own simulations. By the end of the course, participants will have acquired thorough knowledge of:

the theory underlying CGE models;
the basic structure of a typical CGE model;
the representation of applied GE models in the notation used in GEMPACK;
the data requirements of a typical single-country CGE model;
checking that the equations and data of a model are implemented correctly on the computer;
formulating exogenous scenarios;
computing simulations for policy analysis;
interpreting and reporting results.

Venue

The course will be held at the Nagoya City University, Takiko Campus. Morning and afternoon tea and lunch are provided and are included in the course fee. The fee does not cover accommodation, breakfast or dinner. See the Transport and Accommodation sections below for more information.

Documentation and Software

Course participants receive a folder, containing

course notes and printed lecture slides;
exercises to be completed in classes and labs;
documentation of the ORANI-G model and data;
instructions for installing and using GEMPACK.

At the end of the course participants receive a USB key containing:

an Executable-Image version of the latest GEMPACK software which will allow them to run ORANI-G simulations on any modern Windows PC, and to construct and run their own models of comparable size;
PDF files containing the complete GEMPACK documentation;
a copy of the 1-year expiring GEMPACK licence for the course;
all computer files needed to run a standard 35-sector version of the ORANI-G model ;

Assumed Background

Previous hands-on experience in solving GE models is not required. We expect that course participants have:

a bachelor or master degree in Economics, or equivalent work experience;
experience of using a PC running Windows;
a burning desire to learn how to do CGE modelling.

Preparing for the course

You should study some material prior to the course. Download and work through the MINIMAL course material. The MINIMAL model and course are simplified versions of the ORANI-G model and course -- and use similar notation and software. To go further, you could:

download and read the ORANI-G document, which you can find at the top of this page;
download and experiment with the free Trial Version of GEMPACK.

Cancellation

Cancellations up to 2 months before the course will be fully refunded.

Cancellations from 2 months up to 2 weeks before the course will be 50% refunded.

Transport

Airport:

From Chubu Centrair International Airport Meitetsu train line called "Myu Sky Train" Limited Express (JPY1230 including reserved seat JPY360) is the fastest train to and from the Airport, or you can take other Limited Express train (JPY 870). They will stop at Kanayama station, and you can take a city bus to come to Takiko Campus, see below.

Nagoya City Guide

Subway Train Map

Takiko Campus, NCU:

Access to Takiko Campus: Often there are hot temperatures during September in Nagoya. To keep walks short:

By taking a bus to Takiko bus stop from Kanayama station, and 5 minutes walk to Takiko Campus. At Kanayama station Bus Terminal, take a bus from the Line No. 11, 12, 14, or 16 (fee is JPY 210). These lines will stop at "Takiko" bus stop. From the bus stop, 5 minutes walk to Takiko Campus.
By taking a subway to Sakurayama station, and 10 minutes walk to Takiko Campus. Take a subway to arrive in Sakurayama station, and 10 minutes walk from Exit No. 5 at Sakurayama station to Takiko Campus.

Accommodation

If you are coming to Takiko Campus by city bus, hotels near Kanayama station may be convenient. Some hotels near Kanayama station:

If you are coming to Takiko Campus by subway, hotels near any subway station may be convenient. Sakurayama station (S11) is on Sakura-dori Line, so you can come from Nagoya Station without transferring subway line. You have many options to choose hotel if you navigate public transportation.