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.
EcoAustria’s ECI Competition Index shows a downward trend in the fourth quarter of 2024
The gradual increase in the statutory retirement age for women in Austria is beginning to have an effect: A recent EcoAustria brief analysis concludes that the reform has led to a significant increase in employment among 60-year-old women.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In a recent brief analysis, EcoAustria looked at the commercial law design of the introduction of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in the EU. This is intended to prevent the migration of companies from CO2-intensive industries and thus avoid the mere relocation of the resulting emissions to other parts of the world.
The rise in gas and electricity prices is associated with a sharp slump in growth.
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.
The importance of childcare and early childhood education is clearly underlined by the results of labor market and educational research. This concerns both the compatibility of work and family life, as well as the educational outcomes of children and future pupils.
Prices for electricity and natural gas on the wholesale market have reached new record highs in recent weeks.
The economic research institute calculated the costs for the nationwide expansion of childcare in Austria.
By Philipp
The coronavirus pandemic has seen the first widespread use of working from home. A current EcoAustria brief analysis discusses the effects of working from home on the gender pay gap …
By Philipp
In addition to overcoming the current COVID-19 crisis, global climate change is probably one of the key challenges of the future. In Europe in particular, efforts have been intensified in recent years …
By Philipp
The German economy is growing at a snail’s pace. GDP increased by 0.6% last year and growth is only expected to be slightly higher in 2020. Austria is also affected by this…
By Philipp
The current government program provides for tax relief for employees and companies. Specifically, the first, second and third stages of the income tax rate are to be reduced from 25% to 20%, from 35% to 30% and from 42% to 40%…
By Philipp
The new federal government’s reform plans to reduce the burden on employees and companies are heading in the right direction. At present, employees only receive a good half of what companies pay for an hour’s work…
By Philipp
The number of pension recipients and the duration of entitlement will increase in the coming years. This is associated with a significant increase in expenditure in the pension system…
By Philipp
Education is one of the key drivers of a country’s individual, economic and social development. There is potential for improvement in the Austrian education system…
By Philipp
The lax budget discipline in the “free play of forces”, together with the flattening economy, has clear consequences for the national budget. The Federal Ministry of Finance recently reported to the EU Commission…
By Philipp
Last week, the National Council passed the first stage of the tax reform announced in May 2019. “Reducing the burden on the labor factor is a step in the right direction for more growth, prosperity and employment…
By Philipp
At 42.8 percent of gross domestic product, the tax burden in Austria is very high by international standards. “In terms of the tax burden, Austria is in a top position in Europe…
By Philipp
Austria’s economy is currently growing more slowly. In addition, there are uncertainties from abroad, such as the weak growth in Germany, the unclear outcome of Brexit and the increasing trade conflicts worldwide …
By Philipp
After Austria has undergone only a few significant structural reforms in the area of economic and social policy over the past ten years, few major reforms have been implemented in the last, shortened legislative period.
By Philipp
Pensions are currently playing a central role in the run-up to the National Council elections. After the last government had already initiated an increase in minimum pensions, the latest pension summit …
