The Social Accounting Matrix sub-sub-option can be reached from the Display option on the Main Menu, the Specialized Display sub-option and then the Social Accounting Matrix sub-sub-option. It is also located under the Main Menu Map options.

A social accounting matrix (SAM) is an extension of an input-output table that economists use to show the inter-sectoral flows of goods and services within an economy (see the upper left-hand cell of the SAM). The SAM more generally displays flows among actor-classes in the socio-economic system. For instance, the cell in the government column and household row shows flows from the government to households (such as pension payments). The cell in the firms' column and government row similarly shows flows from firms to the government (such as tax payments). You can double-click on certain numbers on the SAM table and this will bring up a small window. From this window you can expand the numbers, show them over time—thus presenting them in a table—or expand the cell’s contents.

You can move across countries/regions or groupings and across years with the drop-down boxes. Clicking in cells of the SAM will, when appropriate, provide options for (1) expanding the cell to show sub-elements of it, (2) showing values across time, and (3) providing some explanation of the cell’s contents.

Note: When toggling between stocks and flows, users may note that some of the stocks are not present. This is because this feature of IFs is currently under development.