Research Paper 19: Extensions of the Energy PUblic Policy Model for Austria

One of EcoAustria's key research competencies is the ex-ante evaluation of economic and social policy measures. The dynamic equilibrium model PuMA ("PUblic Policy Model for Austria and other European Countries") is usually used at the Institute for comparative analyses of the impact of reform measures and demographic developments.

This allows measures in the areas of tax, social and labor market policy, as well as the economic consequences of other developments such as education, migration and technological progress, to be examined. However, a detailed analysis of the ecological effects of such measures and an examination of the consequences of climate instruments were not taken into account in the previous model. The developers of the original PuMA model, Johannes Berger and Ludwig Strohner, have now developed the E-PuMA model for this purpose.

Global warming and its ecological, social and economic consequences are leading to a large number of measures to mitigate climate change at international, European and national level. The newly developed model is now to be used to investigate the corresponding consequences of such measures. This can be seen as an extension of the original model to include the areas of energy and climate protection and therefore takes the following aspects into account:

• On the private household side, demand for energy sources is modeled for the main uses of transport, indoor climate and other consumption of electrical energy.
• On the supply side, energy and electricity companies that provide energy for companies and private households are shown.
• In addition, the aspect of energy demand from foreign companies and households ("fuel tourism"), which is important for Austria, is also taken into account.