Mircrosimulation models (MSM) and Computable General Equilibrium models (CGE) have both been widely used in policy analysis. The combination of these two model types allows the utilisation of the advantages of both types. The aim of this paper is to describe the state-of-the-art in simulation...

This paper describes IZA[psi]MOD, the policy microsimulation model of the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). The model uses household microdata from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study and firm data from the German linked employer-employee dataset LIAB. IZA[psi]MOD consists of three...

This paper describes IZAΨMOD, the policy microsimulation model of the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). The model uses household microdata from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study and firm data from the German linked employer-employee dataset LIAB. IZAΨMOD consists of three components:...

We assess the effects of U.S. tax policy reforms on inequality by applying a new decomposition method that allows us to disentangle mechanical effects due to changes in pre-tax incomes from direct effects of policy reforms. While tax reforms implemented under Democrat administrations, in...

We assess the effects of U.S. tax policy reforms on inequality by applying a new decomposition method that allows us to disentangle the direct policy effect from the effect of changing market incomes. Over the whole period 1979-2007 the cumulative tax policy effect aggravated income inequality...

Living costs in Germany have surged since Russia’s attack on Ukraine. In this article, we discuss pros and cons of different government policies to protect affected citizens. There is a vast domain of possible relief options, each coming with its own trade-offs and design pitfalls. Information...

Thanks to the reform process between 1992 and 2007, Germany was in a very good position to master demographic change. These reforms were farsighted, they stabilised the public pension system and they significantly increased employment, the foundation of every old age provision. The “Pension...

Die Zukunftsfähigkeit des gesetzlichen Rentensystems wird durch Familien mit Kindern sichergestellt. Anders als im Steuerrecht existieren in der Sozialversicherung jedoch keine Kinderfreibeträge, sodass Erwerbstätige mit und ohne Kinder die gleichen Rentenversicherungsbeiträge zahlen. Dieser...

German pension policy faces a dilemma. If it is too generous, it harms contributors, disincentivises labour supply, and crowds out education and infrastructure investment needed to pay for social protection. If it is too frugal, it harms those with social and health issues. Thus, smart...