Research

SimPaths underpins a growing body of methodological and applied work across life course analysis, income support, care, and health inequalities. Start with the primary reference for an overview of the model. The selected publications that follow show how it is being applied.

Primary reference

International Journal of Microsimulation2025

SimPaths: an open-source microsimulation model for life course analysis

Bronka P, van de Ven J, Kopasker D, Katikireddi SV, Richiardi M

Use this as the primary citation for the model and as the best high-level introduction to the SimPaths framework, scope, and design choices.

Further references

Conference abstract 2025

European Journal of Public Health

Tax reforms vs benefit enhancement to address mental health inequalities: a microsimulation study

Igelström E, Kopasker D, Richiardi MG, Katikireddi SV

Compares income-tax reforms alone with reforms combined with benefit increases, examining mental health inequalities in the UK. Published in the conference supplement, volume 35, supplement 4.

Working paper

CeMPA WP 5/25

Welfare effects of social care policies

van de Ven J, Bronka P, Richiardi M

A recent working paper using the model to examine social care policy effects through a life course lens.

Working paper

CeMPA WP 7/24

The life course effects of care

van de Ven J, Bronka P, Richiardi M

Explores how caring responsibilities shape outcomes over time and illustrates the kind of policy questions SimPaths can support.

Journal article 2025

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Attenuation and reinforcement mechanisms over the life course

Richiardi M, Bronka P, van de Ven J

An example of SimPaths informing broader theoretical questions about cumulative dynamics across the life course.

Journal article 2024

Social Science & Medicine

Evaluating the influence of taxation and social security policies on psychological distress: a microsimulation study of the UK during the COVID-19 economic crisis

Kopasker D, Bronka P, Thomson RM, Khodygo V, Kromydas T, Meier P, Heppenstall A, Bambra C, Lomax N, Craig P, Richiardi M, Katikireddi SV

A policy-focused application linking tax-benefit reform scenarios to mental health outcomes during a period of acute economic disruption.

Journal article 2024

PLOS Medicine

Short-term impacts of Universal Basic Income on population mental health inequalities in the UK: a microsimulation modelling study

Thomson RM, Kopasker D, Bronka P, Richiardi M, Khodygo V, Baxter AJ, Igelström E, Pearce A, Leyland AH, Katikireddi SV

Shows how the model can be used to examine distributional health effects of ambitious income-support policies.