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Brief analysis 28: Does Austria need an energy crisis mechanism?

By Veronika Dellmour

As part of the energy market reform, the federal government is planning to introduce an “energy crisis mechanism” that could guarantee households a maximum electricity price of ten cents per kilowatt hour in future. At the same time, the government bill to amend the Price Act includes the possibility of a nationwide determination of fixed prices for end customers.

The AI revolution: impact and potential for Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

On behalf of the Federal Chancellery, EcoAustria looked at how artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing economic processes in Austria, which sectors are particularly affected and which political measures are necessary to make the best possible use of the resulting potential.

Policy Note 60: Austria with declining competitiveness

By Veronika Dellmour

The competitiveness of the Austrian economy is becoming increasingly negative. As the current EcoAustria Competitiveness Index (ECI) for the fourth quarter of 2024 shows, the phase of stagnation that could be observed until around 2022 has solidified into a phase with a downward trend in 2023 and 2024.

Budgethearing: Statement by EcoAustria Director Monika Köppl-Turyna for NEOS

By Veronika Dellmour

The double budget provides for savings of 6.4 and 8.7 billion euros respectively. Despite these measures, the budget deficit remains high at 4.5 and 4.2 percent of GDP. Without consolidation, it would even be 5.8 percent. However, the slight improvement in the Maastricht balance next year is not due to the federal government, but to social security and the provinces and municipalities

Policy Note 59: Reconstruction in Ukraine – challenges and potential for Austrian companies

By Veronika Dellmour

Since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022, Ukraine’s economic output has plummeted. According to international estimates, real GDP had fallen to around 77% of its pre-war level by the end of 2024. In addition, large parts of the infrastructure, industrial facilities and residential buildings were destroyed. The current reconstruction requirement … Continued

Labor market-specific effects of family care needs

By Veronika Dellmour

Caring for parents is increasingly becoming a labor market stress test for many working people in Austria. A recent EcoAustria study commissioned by ERSTE Foundation concludes that the need for family care is a measurable trigger for part-time employment, early retirement, the use of partial retirement and withdrawal from working life.

Panel discussion – European competitiveness

By Veronika Dellmour

On February 17, 2025, EcoAustria, the Department of Economics at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and Uniwersytet Warszawski / University of Warsaw invite you to a joint panel discussion on the topic of “European Competitiveness”.

Expansion of childcare in Styria

By Veronika Dellmour

In a recent study commissioned by the NEOS Lab, EcoAustria examined the expansion of childcare in Styria in terms of costs and benefits for the province and its regional economic performance. Two different scenarios were analyzed in this context.

Policy Note 56: Meeting the challenges of labor and skills needs

By Veronika Dellmour

In recent years and decades, the working-age population in Austria and thus the supply of labor has grown continuously and significantly. In recent years, however, it has become clear that the demand for labor and skilled workers is one of the main challenges facing Austria’s companies and the country as a business location.

Government Redistribution Day Analysis of the net fiscal contributions of net contributors in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

In a recent study commissioned by the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce, EcoAustria shows that net contributor households in Austria work exclusively for the state every year until June 28 and only then for their own pockets. Unlike previous studies, this new study reveals the full dimension of state redistribution for the first time.Specifically, Austria has … Continued

Research Paper 28: Self-serving redistributive preferences among natives and immigrants in the UK

By Veronika Dellmour

In an online experiment, we investigate how bias and equity concerns influence the redistributive preferences of UK natives and immigrants. Natives and immigrants were paired with each other in a series of distributive situations. They decided how a pie created from the previous contributions of both parties should be divided and indicated what they thought … Continued

Expansion of childcare in Upper Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

On behalf of Neos Lab, EcoAustria analyzed the expansion of childcare in Upper Austria in terms of costs and benefits for the province and its regional economic performance. Specifically, three different scenarios were simulated.

Economic evaluation and effects of property-related taxes

By Veronika Dellmour

At a time when climate protection and the limitation of climate change are more than ever at the center of national and international efforts, a new study by the economic research institute EcoAustria, conducted on behalf of oecolution austria, provides crucial insights into the debate on the economic strategy for achieving climate targets.

Research Paper 26: Unexpected Waiting Corrupts

By Veronika Dellmour

The experience of waiting is ubiquitous in all areas of life, and sometimes a waiting experience is followed by decisions where morality matters. We present the results of an on-site laboratory study to analyze the effects of (un)expected waiting times on moral behavior.

Falling emissions and positive growth rates are linked

By Veronika Dellmour

At a time when climate protection and the limitation of climate change are more than ever at the center of national and international efforts, a new study by the economic research institute EcoAustria, conducted on behalf of oecolution austria, provides crucial insights into the debate on the economic strategy for achieving climate targets.

Economic effects of universities of applied sciences in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

This study examines the economic effects of universities of applied sciences in Austria. Both supply and demand are analyzed, as well as the role of applied research at universities of applied sciences with regard to the innovation potential of the Austrian economy. By analyzing supply-side and demand-side effects on GDP, the resulting returns for the … Continued

Economic effects of digitization

By Veronika Dellmour

Digital technologies represent a fundamental and multipurpose technology for the economy, for society and for the administration and organization of the public community. This economic analysis focuses on the economic significance of digitalization. The focus is on the use of digital technologies and their impact channels and effects.

Estimating the economic effects of reintroducing the holding period for securities

By Veronika Dellmour

This study by the economic research institute EcoAustria examines the effects of the reintroduction of a withholding tax retention period and its impact on key macroeconomic indicators of the Austrian economy. The calculations illustrate the benefits of this policy measure. In principle, it lowers the required rate of return for companies and makes Austria a more attractive destination for investments by domestic investors.

Brief analysis 25: Austria’s competitiveness declining

By Veronika Dellmour

Eco Austria Competitiveness Index in the fourth quarter of 2022: Update of the ECI In a new brief analysis, EcoAustria has examined the development of Austria’s competitiveness compared to other EU countries. The current results of the EcoAustria Competitiveness Index (ECI) currently show a downward trend in domestic competitiveness. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the value of the index deteriorated further from 104.8 to 104.3, putting Austria in 14th place out of a total of 30 economic areas analyzed.

Brief analysis 24: Tackle long-term challenges in winter tourism now!

By Veronika Dellmour

According to Statistics Austria’s national tourism satellite account, tourism contributed around 29.4 billion euros to Austria’s value added in 2018 and 2019. Specifically, the contribution amounted to 7.5% of total value added. Between 2007 and 2019, revenue in the summer season accounted for an average of just 74% of revenue in the winter season, which underlines the importance of the winter season for Austrian tourism in particular.

EcoAustria Policy Note 52: Reform options for the Austrian fiscal equalization system

By Veronika Dellmour

The current period of fiscal equalization expires at the end of this year and its future structure is currently being discussed between the federal government, provinces and municipalities. In this context, EcoAustria has dealt with fundamental considerations for strengthening fiscal decentralization in Austria and submitted proposals for a more efficient and resilient design of the fiscal equalization system.

Brief analysis 23: Challenging competitive system in times of crisis

By Veronika Dellmour

The Competitiveness Index (ECI) is used by EcoAustria’s economic research institute to measure a country’s competitiveness. This takes into account the exports, investments and labor productivity of individual countries and places them in an international comparison. A current calculation, which already includes data from the third quarter of 2022, shows a deterioration in Austria’s index value from 104.6 in the second quarter to 103 in the third quarter of 2022.

Effects of venture capital and private equity funds in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

Austria is one of the countries in which the supply of venture capital and private equity is below average. This shows that venture capital plays an important role for the economy. It contributes to innovation, stimulates employment and investment and enables capital-constrained companies that do not have access to bank loans to develop further.

Brief analysis 22: The economic significance of the Internet in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

On behalf of ISPA (Internet Service Providers Austria), the economic research institute EcoAustria has examined the overall economic effects of broadband internet infrastructures and the digital services based on them. The result: both conventional basic broadband networks and modern high-broadband networks hold enormous potential for innovation, productivity and ultimately also for domestic economic growth.

Statement on the draft budget for 2023

By Veronika Dellmour

In mid-October, Federal Finance Minister Magnus Brunner presented the draft budget for the coming year 2023. In a statement addressed to parliament, EcoAustria Director Monika Köppl-Turyna explains what the institute considers to be the most important recommendations for action for the coming year and beyond.

Brief analysis 21: Sustainability of public finances should come back into focus after the crisis

By Veronika Dellmour

In a recent brief analysis, EcoAustria looked at the effects of the interest rate turnaround on public finances. Although the central banks’ increase in interest rates is intended to counteract the inflationary trend, it also worsens the financing conditions for the public sector. In addition, we will also face increased budgetary burdens in the future in connection with the ageing of society.

Social aspects of international trade

By Veronika Dellmour

On September 29, 2022, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Monika Köppl-Turyna spoke about the social aspects of international trade as part of a webinar organized by the FIW (Competence Center “Research Focus International Business”).

Study on the economic significance of e-commerce in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

In 2020, companies in Austria generated sales of EUR 30.2 billion via websites, apps or online marketplaces – around 80% more than in 2016 (EUR 16.8 billion). As part of a study commissioned by Amazon, EcoAustria examined the economic significance of online retail in Austria and the associated growth impetus for the domestic economy.

Value creation of startups in Austria

By Veronika Dellmour

In a new study, EcoAustria presents suitable recommendations for action to increase the number of start-ups in Austria. Innovative start-ups play a particularly important role when it comes to promoting the overall growth potential of an economy.

Brief analysis 18: Update of the ECI and methodology

By Veronika Dellmour

The Competitiveness Index (ECI) is used at the EcoAustria Institute for the ongoing assessment of a country’s competitiveness. The fourth quarter of 2021 has now been added to the data sets that have existed since the beginning of 2017, resulting in the most up-to-date assessment of competitiveness possible. Austria’s competitiveness is stable in times of crisis.

Research Paper 7: Can Media Drive the Electorate

By Veronika Dellmour

The annual conference of the European Public Choice Society will take place in Rome this year from April 11 to 16, 2018. EcoAustria Director Tobias Thomas and co-authors will present new research findings on the role of the media in democracies and on central bank communication.

Josef Moser becomes new President of EcoAustria

By Veronika Dellmour

EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research is pleased to announce that Dr. Josef Moser will take over as President of the research institute from Dr. Gabriele Zuna-Kratky, who will remain with the institute as a member of the Board of Directors. With the appointment of the former President of the Austrian Court of Audit as … Continued

EcoAustria at the Forum Alpbach 2015

By Veronika Dellmour

The financing of long pension phases is a burden on the working world, especially in Austria, with high tax charges. What is particularly critical about this is that the pension system has long been used for non-pension …

EcoAustria at the Süd-Ost Treuhand summer talks

By Veronika Dellmour

“Courage” was the guiding theme of this year’s summer talks organized by the auditing and tax consultancy firm SOT. On August 29 and 30, 2015, Chief Research Officer Ulrich Schuh, Silvia Angelo (AK) and Heiner Flassbeck (economist), among others, discussed the courage of performance justice, distributive justice and the courage to negotiate in Velden. At … Continued

Study: Analysis of the clearance system in the Republic of Croatia

By Veronika Dellmour

At the request of the Croatian government, a World Bank study on “Analysis of the clearance system in the Republic of Croatia” was carried out with the collaboration of Dr. Ulrich Schuh, Head of Research. The results were presented to the responsible Croatian minister. You can find the report and further information at: World Bank