Developer/availability

Robin Youll

Functions

A framework in Excel to allocate a portion of imports of goods at current prices to changes in inventories at current and constant prices at a level of product detail specified by the user - the model reflects shelf-life of products. Underlying assumption: all imported goods assumed first to be put in inventory and then used either for intermediate consumption, final consumption, or capital formation.

Documentation

An import-lag model for calculating the change in inventories

Data requirements

1) Monthly current price values of imports of goods classified by product; 2) Detailed trade price index, such as a unit value index.

Other requirements

1) Fully specified classification system for products; 2) Intermediate understanding of Excel.

Flexibility

1) User free to specify classification of products at any level of detail; 2) User free to choose rate of withdrawal from inventory (linear or exponential); 3) User free to change formulae to generate distribution of merchandise imports of goods if they deem there is a better way to reflect the economic reality of their own economy.

Automaticity of calculations

If data are entered correctly in the relevant data entry cells, calculations of changes in inventories will be done automatically.

Countries using the toolkit

Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda Will be used in Belize