18th Ruhr Graduate Summer School

This workshop will present state-of-the-art computable general equilibrium (CGE) models that are widely used in applied economic research to study the impacts of emissions reductions policies. The standard top-down framework of CGE models will be complemented by a bottom-up representation of the electricity system to capture the pivotal role of carbon-free supply and demand technologies for decarbonizing the economy as a whole.

The course will build on seminal peer-reviewed publications combining methodological expertise on hybrid bottom-up/top-down modeling with policy-relevant applications, ranging from technology-specific regulations (e.g. green subsidies, renewable portfolio standards, energy efficiency standards, technology bans) to economy-wide emissions pricing and revenue-rebating schemes (green tax reforms). Guided by a series of lectures and hands-on modeling exercises, participants will develop step by step the capacity to re-formulate model codes towards their own needs in academic research or policy consultancy.

Mathematically, the models are formulated and implemented as so-called “mixed complementarity problems” (MCP), stating complementarity of economic equilibrium conditions with associated economic decision variables. For model implementation and data management we use the Generalized Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS), which is a convenient model language for the development of large-scale mathematical programs and the processing of extensive datasets. To facilitate the formulation and calibration of large-scale CGE models we introduce MPSGE (Mathematical Programming System for General Equilibrium analysis) – a powerful meta-language for CGE modeling operated under GAMS.

Instructors

Prof Christoph Böhringer (University of Oldenburg, Germany)

Prof Volker Clausen (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)

Workshop Contents

• Economic Equilibrium, Mixed Complementarity and Mathematical Programming
• Bottom-up activity analysis of the electricity system
• Integration of bottom-up electricity market models into top-down CGE models
• MPSGE implementation of CGE models
• CGE-based impact assessment of net-zero emissions policies (Participants will have the opportunity to build their own large-scale bottom-up/top-down CGE model calibrated to baseline data)

Participants

The workshop is targeted to scientific researchers and policy analysts at universities, research centers, consulting companies and ministries who are interested in the economic impact assessment of policy interventions using CGE models. At the end of the workshop, each participant should be able to run a hybrid bottom-up top-down CGE model based on empirical data to analyze decarbonization policies.

Fees and Scholarships

The fee for participating in the training workshop is 2,500 Euro and includes lectures, course material and lunches. Academic participants from accredited universities or research institutions will be admitted on a space-available basis for a discount of 20%. Graduate students from accredited academic institutions are likewise admitted on a space-available basis for a discount of 40%. There will be a limited number of scholarships (in the form of tuition waiver, excluding travel and subsistence expenses) that have been set aside for qualified participants from developing countries. Deadline for the application for a scholarship is July 12, 2024.

Additional Information and Deadlines

All sessions take place at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Campus Essen. The registration deadline is September 6, 2024. The maximum number of participants is restricted to 16! Slots are guaranteed only upon full payment of fees through the course coordinator.

For more information, please contact the course coordinator Mr Ioannis Arampatzidis (ioannis.arampatzidis@vwl.uni‐due.de) or click here.

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