A new book, co-authored by Holly Sutherland, Emeritus Professor at ISER, and Francesco Figari of the University of Eastern Piedmont, documents the historical evolution of EUROMOD, the European Union’s tax-benefit microsimulation model developed at ISER, and now inspiring similar models for economies around the world. The book explains how the model is now used in policy processes across Europe and includes a curated selection of influential EUROMOD-based studies, celebrating EUROMOD’s enduring contribution to the science and practice of social policy analysis in Europe and beyond.
In 2026, EUROMOD — the European Union’s tax‑benefit microsimulation model — marks its 30th anniversary. Established in 1996 as an academic prototype, the model has grown into a central pillar of European social policy analysis. Today, EUROMOD provides a harmonized and transparent framework for assessing the distributional and fiscal effects of tax‑benefit policies across EU Member States and partner countries. Its evidence has shaped national debates, informed EU‑level policymaking, and contributed to a deeper understanding of income distribution, poverty, labor market incentives, and redistribution.
Over the past three decades, EUROMOD has inspired a vast body of academic research and institutional analysis, producing hundreds of peer‑reviewed articles and policy reports. This anniversary volume takes stock of that achievement. It documents the historical evolution of EUROMOD, explains how the model is used in policy processes across Europe, and highlights methodological innovations and future directions in microsimulation.
Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners, the contributions offer a dual perspective: a retrospective account of how EUROMOD became a cornerstone of social policy assessment, and a forward‑looking exploration of the model’s next 30 years. The volume includes a curated selection of influential EUROMOD‑based studies — spanning diverse topics, countries, and periods — reprinted from leading peer‑reviewed journals to showcase the breadth and depth of the model’s scientific impact.
This book provides policymakers, researchers, and students with a unique resource on the development, application, and future potential of microsimulation in the EU. Documenting the foundations and evolution of a tool now used daily by researchers, statistical offices, and policymakers, this book celebrates EUROMOD’s enduring contribution to the science and practice of social policy analysis in Europe and beyond.
Published by Springer, the book is now available to download or you can purchase a hard copy here
Read more about our current research using EUROMOD and our microsimulation model for the UK, UKMOD, here at ISER’s Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis