Recognizing Heterogeneous Responses to Policy

Abstract

Depending on their attributes and on the particular social context, different microlevel actors typically respond differently to a given policy measure. Nonlinear single-equation models that recognize and incorporate microlevel response heterogeneity are appearing more frequently in the sociological literature. However, because nonlinear models resist analytic manipulation when embedded within multiequation systems, it becomes more difficult to assess their population-level policy implications. Policy analysts need to generalize single-equation policy responses to whole populations, to trace indirect and cumulative effects, to calculate distributional implications, and to assess the sensitivity of their estimates to different contexts. Based on numerical rather than analytic solution methods, the micromodeling strategy is designed to take full account of response heterogeneity while addressing each of these policy research tasks.