329 lines
8.5 KiB
Markdown
329 lines
8.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: policyengine-aggregation
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description: PolicyEngine aggregation patterns - using adds attribute and add() function for summing variables across entities
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---
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# PolicyEngine Aggregation Patterns
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Essential patterns for summing variables across entities in PolicyEngine.
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## Quick Decision Guide
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```
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Is the variable ONLY a sum of other variables?
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│
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├─ YES → Use `adds` attribute (NO formula needed!)
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│ adds = ["var1", "var2"]
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│
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└─ NO → Use `add()` function in formula
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(when you need max_, where, conditions, etc.)
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```
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## Quick Reference
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| Need | Use | Example |
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|------|-----|---------|
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| Simple sum | `adds` | `adds = ["var1", "var2"]` |
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| Sum from parameters | `adds` | `adds = "gov.path.to.list"` |
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| Sum + max_() | `add()` | `max_(0, add(...))` |
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| Sum + where() | `add()` | `where(cond, add(...), 0)` |
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| Sum + conditions | `add()` | `if cond: add(...)` |
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| Count booleans | `adds` | `adds = ["is_eligible"]` |
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---
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## 1. `adds` Class Attribute (Preferred When Possible)
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### When to Use
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Use `adds` when a variable is **ONLY** the sum of other variables with **NO additional logic**.
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### Syntax
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```python
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class variable_name(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = Entity
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definition_period = PERIOD
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# Option 1: List of variables
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adds = ["variable1", "variable2", "variable3"]
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# Option 2: Parameter tree path
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adds = "gov.path.to.parameter.list"
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```
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### Key Points
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- ✅ No `formula()` method needed
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- ✅ Automatically handles entity aggregation (person → household/tax_unit/spm_unit)
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- ✅ Clean and declarative
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### Example: Simple Income Sum
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```python
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class tanf_gross_earned_income(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = SPMUnit
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label = "TANF gross earned income"
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unit = USD
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definition_period = MONTH
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adds = ["employment_income", "self_employment_income"]
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# NO formula needed! Automatically:
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# 1. Gets each person's employment_income
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# 2. Gets each person's self_employment_income
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# 3. Sums all values across SPM unit members
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```
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### Example: Using Parameter List
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```python
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class income_tax_refundable_credits(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = TaxUnit
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definition_period = YEAR
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adds = "gov.irs.credits.refundable"
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# Parameter file contains list like:
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# - earned_income_tax_credit
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# - child_tax_credit
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# - additional_child_tax_credit
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```
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### Example: Counting Boolean Values
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```python
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class count_eligible_people(Variable):
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value_type = int
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entity = SPMUnit
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definition_period = YEAR
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adds = ["is_eligible_person"]
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# Automatically sums True (1) and False (0) across members
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```
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---
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## 2. `add()` Function (When Logic Needed)
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### When to Use
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Use `add()` inside a `formula()` when you need:
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- To apply `max_()`, `where()`, or conditions
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- To combine with other operations
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- To modify values before/after summing
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### Syntax
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```python
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from policyengine_us.model_api import *
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def formula(entity, period, parameters):
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result = add(entity, period, variable_list)
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```
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**Parameters:**
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- `entity`: The entity to operate on
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- `period`: The time period for calculation
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- `variable_list`: List of variable names or parameter path
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### Example: With max_() to Prevent Negatives
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```python
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class adjusted_earned_income(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = SPMUnit
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definition_period = MONTH
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def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
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# Need max_() to clip negative values
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gross = add(spm_unit, period, ["employment_income", "self_employment_income"])
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return max_(0, gross) # Prevent negative income
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```
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### Example: With Additional Logic
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```python
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class household_benefits(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = Household
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definition_period = YEAR
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def formula(household, period, parameters):
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# Sum existing benefits
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BENEFITS = ["snap", "tanf", "ssi", "social_security"]
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existing = add(household, period, BENEFITS)
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# Add new benefit conditionally
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new_benefit = household("special_benefit", period)
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p = parameters(period).gov.special_benefit
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if p.include_in_total:
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return existing + new_benefit
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return existing
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```
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### Example: Building on Previous Variables
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```python
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class total_deductions(Variable):
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value_type = float
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entity = TaxUnit
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definition_period = YEAR
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def formula(tax_unit, period, parameters):
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p = parameters(period).gov.irs.deductions
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# Get standard deductions using parameter list
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standard = add(tax_unit, period, p.standard_items)
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# Apply phase-out logic
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income = tax_unit("adjusted_gross_income", period)
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phase_out_rate = p.phase_out_rate
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phase_out_start = p.phase_out_start
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reduction = max_(0, (income - phase_out_start) * phase_out_rate)
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return max_(0, standard - reduction)
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```
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---
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## 3. Common Anti-Patterns to Avoid
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### ❌ NEVER: Manual Summing
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```python
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# WRONG - Never do this!
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def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
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person = spm_unit.members
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employment = person("employment_income", period)
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self_emp = person("self_employment_income", period)
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return spm_unit.sum(employment + self_emp) # ❌ BAD
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```
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### ✅ CORRECT: Use adds
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```python
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# RIGHT - Clean and simple
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adds = ["employment_income", "self_employment_income"] # ✅ GOOD
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```
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### ❌ WRONG: Using add() When adds Suffices
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```python
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# WRONG - Unnecessary complexity
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def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
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return add(spm_unit, period, ["income1", "income2"]) # ❌ Overkill
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```
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### ✅ CORRECT: Use adds
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```python
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# RIGHT - Simpler
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adds = ["income1", "income2"] # ✅ GOOD
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```
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---
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## 4. Entity Aggregation Explained
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When using `adds` or `add()`, PolicyEngine automatically handles entity aggregation:
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```python
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class household_total_income(Variable):
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entity = Household # Higher-level entity
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definition_period = YEAR
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adds = ["employment_income", "self_employment_income"]
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# employment_income is defined for Person (lower-level)
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# PolicyEngine automatically:
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# 1. Gets employment_income for each person in household
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# 2. Gets self_employment_income for each person
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# 3. Sums all values to household level
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```
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This works across all entity hierarchies:
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- Person → Tax Unit
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- Person → SPM Unit
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- Person → Household
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- Tax Unit → Household
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- SPM Unit → Household
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---
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## 5. Parameter Lists
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Parameters can define lists of variables to sum:
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**Parameter file** (`gov/irs/credits/refundable.yaml`):
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```yaml
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description: List of refundable tax credits
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values:
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2024-01-01:
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- earned_income_tax_credit
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- child_tax_credit
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- additional_child_tax_credit
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```
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**Usage in variable**:
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```python
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adds = "gov.irs.credits.refundable"
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# Automatically sums all credits in the list
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```
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---
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## 6. Decision Matrix
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| Scenario | Solution | Code |
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|----------|----------|------|
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| Sum 2-3 variables | `adds` attribute | `adds = ["var1", "var2"]` |
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| Sum many variables | Parameter list | `adds = "gov.path.list"` |
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| Sum + prevent negatives | `add()` with `max_()` | `max_(0, add(...))` |
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| Sum + conditional | `add()` with `where()` | `where(eligible, add(...), 0)` |
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| Sum + phase-out | `add()` with calculation | `add(...) - reduction` |
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| Count people/entities | `adds` with boolean | `adds = ["is_child"]` |
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---
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## 7. Key Principles
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1. **Default to `adds` attribute** when variable is only a sum
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2. **Use `add()` function** only when additional logic is needed
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3. **Never manually sum** with `entity.sum(person(...) + person(...))`
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4. **Let PolicyEngine handle** entity aggregation automatically
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5. **Use parameter lists** for maintainable, configurable sums
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---
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## Related Skills
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- **policyengine-period-patterns-skill**: For period conversion when summing across different time periods
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- **policyengine-core-skill**: For understanding entity hierarchies and relationships
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---
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## For Agents
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When implementing or reviewing code:
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1. **Check if `adds` can be used** before writing a formula
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2. **Prefer declarative over imperative** when possible
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3. **Follow existing patterns** in the codebase
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4. **Test entity aggregation** carefully in YAML tests
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5. **Document parameter lists** clearly for `adds` references
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---
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## Common Use Cases
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### Earned Income
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```python
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adds = ["employment_income", "self_employment_income"]
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```
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### Unearned Income
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```python
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adds = ["interest_income", "dividend_income", "rental_income"]
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```
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### Total Benefits
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```python
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adds = ["snap", "tanf", "wic", "ssi", "social_security"]
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```
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### Tax Credits
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```python
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adds = "gov.irs.credits.refundable"
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```
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### Counting Children
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```python
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adds = ["is_child"] # Returns count of children
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``` |