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[ D] Economists use models to describe stylized facts of the reality and to make quantitative predictions regarding the effects of institutional changes.
At the ZEW several model types are applied. The core instrument for our analyses is constituted by a modular system of applied general equilibrium
models (CGE). CGE models provide the capacity to combine important key indicators of sustainable development in a microeconomically consistent way and
to investigate complex arrays of conflicting goals among ecology, economy and social equity. Applied general equilibrium models are primarily suited
to measure sustainability impacts of policy measures on the regional, sectoral and household level; owing to the relatively pronounced degree of
abstraction, however, limits are posed with respect to detailed assessments. Partial models generally contain significantly more pertinent detail on
technological conditions (e.g. technical models of energy systems), socio-economic behavioural patterns of households (e.g. micro-simulation models)
or fields of natural science (e.g. climate models, models of water or land use).
A variety of software has been developed in recent years that enables modellers to create user-friendly interactive interfaces for their models.
We use this software in order to share some valuable insights with people who don't have the experience or software to develop large-scale models on their own.
