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Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria
Austrian Tourism Industry is Cautiously Optimistc
The Austrian Minister of Economic, Reinhold Mitterlehner considers that the tourism industry has learned to deal with an economic crisis.
November 28, 2011
Romania Protests Against Austria´s Banks
The Austrian Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority announced to oblige domestic banks to reduce their exposure in the CEE region. Romania fears a credit crunch.
November 28, 2011
Civil Servants Claim 3.9% Salary Increase
Negotiatons between the Austrian government and the trade union for civil servants did not bring an agreement.
November 26, 2011
Austrian Government Pushes for Further Austerity Measures
The Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, did not exclude an austerity package. First effects should be seen already in 2012. However, it is not clear yet if economic forecasts for the next year will hold.
November 26, 2011
Insufficient Child Care Facilities in Austria
Increase of childcare rates, but supply of childcare facilities still insufficient for 12% of all persons with childcare responsibilities
November 22, 2011
Fekter Optimistic to Hold AAA-Rating
Austria's Finance Minister expressed confidence on Tuesday that the country would hold on to its AAA sovereign rating.
November 22, 2011
Austrian Minister of Economics Criticizes Hungary
On the occasion of a bilateral meeting between the Hungarian and the Austrian Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner repeated his critics regarding Hungarian foreign currency loans.
November 21, 2011
Austrian Central Bank Calls for Rise in Equity for Banks
The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) prescribes Austrian banks to raise their equity base. By 2016, a further capital base of 3.0% is required.
November 21, 2011
Austerity Measures or New Taxes?
The Austrian government has to reduce its deficits, after having announced the “debt break”. The social democrats call for property taxes.
November 19, 2011
Felderer Pleads for Pay Freeze for Civil Servants
The head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS), Bernhard Felderer, suggests to stop the salary increase for civil servants next year.
November 19, 2011
„Debt Brake“: Government Tries to Persuade Opposition
This week, the Austrian government announced to insert a maximum debt level into the constitution. The approval of one opposition party is still missing.
November 19, 2011
No Growth in Construction Industry in 2012
Austrian companies fear the effects of the debt brake while they still suffer from the consequences of the recession of 2009.
November 17, 2011
„Debt Brake“ for Austrian Government
As the Austrian government fears a downgrade of its rating, the coalition partners agreed to install a „debt break“. Reactions are ambiguous.
November 15, 2011
Savings Capacity in Austrian Health Care System
Expenses for the Austrian health care system amount to 11.0% of the GDP. The savings capacity has to be exploited, politicians say.
November 12, 2011
Spindelegger: Cost Cuts and Privatizations to Save Triple-A
Annual interest payments would grow by € 3bn if Austria was downgraded by one notch.
November 11, 2011
Austria’s Tax Revenues 7.6% Higher than in 2010
The state’s total revenue was up by 8.2%, while expenditures increased by only 1.08% in the period January to September.
November 11, 2011
Felderer: “Austria’s Triple-A at Risk”
The head of the IHS warns against a spillover of the Italian crisis and calls for a national debt brake.
November 9, 2011
Bawag Sues Linz For € 418m
The U.S.-owned bank now sues the Upper-Austrian capital. Linz has terminated a swap contract based on Swiss Francs.
November 8, 2011
Concerns About Austria´s Finance
Due to missing infrastructure projects, Austria loses € 28bn year by year. The President of the Audit Court, Josef Moser, regards the situation of Austria´s finance as dramatic.
November 7, 2011
Austria Has Third-Highest Pension Costs in Europe
Austria´s expenditures for retires reached 12.7% of ist GDP. Only France and Italy surpass Austria. Sustainability of the domestic pension system improved slightly.
November 7, 2011
Capital Increase for Energie AG
The Upper-Austrian regional energy provider will raise its capital by € 200m.
November 5, 2011
Hungary Rejects Further Bank Charges
Contrary to its initial plans, Hungary will not resolve further aid measures for domestic loan takers. The government is seeking for cooperation with concerned banks.
November 5, 2011
Federal Railways: Debt Burden € 15.2bn
The Austrian Minister of Infrastructure, Doris Bures, announced the amount of debt for Austrian Federal Railways and Asfinag.
November 5, 2011
New Speculations about Austria’s Triple-A Rating
Current rumors about a possible downgrade are unfounded, according to a ministry spokesman.
November 4, 2011
Linz Believes in Victory Over BAWAG
The capital of the province of Upper Austria filed a lawsuit against Bawag, which is held by the U.S. investment funds Cerberus.
November 2, 2011
No Nationalization of Austrian Banks
The head of the Austrian bank holding company Fimbag, Klaus Liebscher, believes that Austrian major banks do not need further capital provided by the state.
November 2, 2011
Austria Intensifies Economic Relations to Serbia
The President of the Viennese Chamber of Economics, Brigitte Jank, meets Serbian Ministers in Belgrade and sees a huge potential for Austrian companies.
November 2, 2011
Austrian Unemployment on the Rise
In spite of its low level compared to other EU-countries, the number of unemployed persons increased up to 300.000 in October.
November 1, 2011
Austrian Trade With China to Double
On the occasion of the state visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Austrian Minister of Economics stated to aim a deepening of the bilateral economic relations.
November 1, 2011
Nationalization of Banks Not Excluded Anymore
According to the Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, in the worst case scenario a partly nationalization of banks could take place.
October 31, 2011
Nowotny Expects Lower Growth Rates
The head of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny lowers the growth estimation for the Austrian economy.
October 31, 2011
State Visit: Hu Jintao in Austria
The Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Austria. Today the official meetings with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer and the Government will take place.
October 31, 2011
Orban Attacks Austrian Banks
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to release his country from the “debt slavery” and criticizes Austria´s reactions.
October 29, 2011
„Austria´s Triple A Not in Danger“
For the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, the status of the domestic economy is “well prepared”.
October 29, 2011
Croatian Parliament Abolishes 6% Mobile Service Tax
The local subsidiary of Telekom Austria benefits from the abolition of the special tax which caused expenses of € 15.2m in 2010.
October 28, 2011
Emirates Wins Dispute over Air Rights
The Middle Eastern airline was allowed to offer 13 connections per week from Dubai to Vienna.
October 28, 2011
EU Calls for Opening of Labor Markets to Romanians and Bulgarians
The European Parliament wants a solution by the end of 2011 and does not see any negative effects on social welfare systems.
October 27, 2011
Majority of Austrians Opposed to EU Rescue Package
850 respondents were asked their opinion before Wednesday’s summit meeting. 71% believe that the package is disadvantageous for Austria.
October 27, 2011
Verbund´s Subsidiary APG Going Public?
The IPO of Verbund´s subsidiary Austrian Power Grid is being discussed.
October 25, 2011
„Extend Economic Ties to Georgia“
The Austrian Minister of Economics wants to cooperate closer together with Georgia, which offers export opportunities for the Austrian industry.
October 25, 2011
WIFO Claims Property Tax
Karl Aiginger, CEO of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research calls for a significant increase in taxation of real estate and fuel.
October 24, 2011
Number of Staff Ill Decreasing
In Austria, the number of staff ill decreased slightly in 2010. On average, on 12.9 days staff was away sick. Sickness is becoming a main cause for retirements.
October 22, 2011
Slovak Bank Tax Is Going to Hurt Austrian Banks
On Thursday the Slovak parliament has officially approved a bank levy. The tax is one of the measures taken by the government to strengthen the Slovak budget.
October 21, 2011
Collective Bargaining Starts in Trade Sector
After the complicated negotiations between employers and the trade union of the Austrian metal industry, the trade sector continues. 520.000 workers are concerned.
October 19, 2011
Corruption Suspicions Against Penta
The Czech-Slovak investment company, which also bid for the Austrian A-Tec, is accused to have paid bribes to the Czech Minister of Finance.
October 19, 2011
Austrian Budget: 3.2% Deficit in 2012
Today, the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, presented the budget for 2012. The debt quota rises further until 2015.
October 19, 2011
Solution Found: Wage Increase by 4.2%
After heated debates and strike threats, representatives of the Austrian metal industry and the trade union came to an agreement.
October 18, 2011
Metal Industry: New Bargaining Rounds
The Austrian trade union of metal workers and industry representatives could avert a strike. However, a compromise is still not found.
October 17, 2011
€ 4.0bn Capital Requirement for Austrian Banks
After the industrialist Hannes Androsch, also the Vice-President of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Wolfgang Duchatczek, sees a need to support domestic banks.
October 17, 2011
Austrian Metal Industry: Strike Threatens
After a warning strike on Friday, representatives of the metal industry and the trade union still reached no agreement. Now, a full strike threatens.
October 15, 2011
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