A system includes a multidimensional data processing system storing meta data identifying a plurality of variables, a plurality of dimensions for each variable describing attributes of the variable, and a plurality of levels in each dimension. The meta data also identifies a hierarchy of the dimensions and levels for each variable. The multidimensional data processing system is configured to use the meta data to perform multidimensional queries to retrieve data for one or more of the variables from data storage. The system also includes a variable determination module determining at least one variable of the plurality variables operable to be used to generate a model, and a model generator receiving the data from the multidimensional data processing system and generating a model using the data.