MACRO-SYS: An interactive macroeconomics simulator for advanced learning

Abstract

In this paper it is presented the features and behavior of the tutoring-training system MACRO-SYS. This system allows students to simulate experiments with complex macroeconomic environments. Users have to show their knowledge level by solving the proposed exercises. These exercises represent different economist behaviours. A big advantage of our system is that it allows students to be part of the simulation, interacting and modifying the behavior (parameters), both in the short and long-term, of a real scale economy. If MACRO-SYS detects that the simulated values are strongly deviating from the expected pattern, it will provide hints to the student so that she can change some parameters and bring the economy to the correct (according to the assignment) behavior. Finally, let us remark that, in contrast with most economic models, our system takes into account a huge amount of parameters in order to compute the current state of the economy. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.