Competitiveness

Realignment and Expert Dialog: Austria's Path to Fair Competition

The new head of the Federal Competition Authority (BWB), Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch, has set herself the goal of taking stronger action against companies that abuse their market power. This focus marks a strategic reorientation of the BWB, which previously dealt primarily with price agreements and investigated fewer cases of abuse of market power.

January 28, 2024

Uber Ridesharing Threatens to Retreat from Austria

The US transportation network company Uber wants to mobilise against the taxi and rental car reform in Austria with a petition. The new law would be a setback for Austria in several respects. If the new law is passed on 3 July, we will no longer be able to offer services such as UberX, according to a statement by Uber.

June 27, 2019

Quality of Living - Vienna is still the Number One

Vienna again tops the quality of living survey in 2016. The results of the Mercer study show, for the seventh time in a row, that Vienna's approach to quality of living is internationally acknowledged. Vienna is followed by Zurich (2), Auckland (3), and Munich (4).Vancouver (5) is North America’s highest ranking city, and Singapore is the highest ranking Asian city, holding 26th place. London ranks 39th.

February 26, 2016

Quality of Living Rankings: Vienna Tops the List Again

Vienna remaines at the top of the 2015 Quality of Living Rankings, boasting the best quality of living for expatriates. In the top 5 there are two other European cities, Zurich (place 2) and Munich (place 4). Also Auckland (3rd) and Vancouver (5th) are among the top five cities.

March 4, 2015

Michelin to Downsize in Hungary

French tyre producer Michelin announced to shut down ist tyre plant in Budapest and relocate to Romania.

May 9, 2014

Federation of Industries: “Industrial Compact“ for European Competitiveness

The Austrian Federation of Industries (IV) considers the EU entry of Austria as the basis of prosperty and economic growth in the past years. However, now reforms are required to catch up to a global level.

May 5, 2014

Slovenia: ”Everything Will Stand Still”

Due to the current political crisis the fear about devastating impacts on the Slovenian economy is high.

April 28, 2014

Eder: Policy-Makers Have to Make Decisions

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine, claims not to have heard anything from the Austrian policy makers after he raised criticizm with regard to the Austrian business location.

April 24, 2014

Struggling Insurance Industry

Despite favorable results last year the European insurance market has to face a number of adverse factors.

April 23, 2014

Eder: Austrian Industrial Location Not Attractive Anymore

Austria may lose one of its most important industrial flagships. Wolgang Eder, CEO of the Vienna-listed steel manufacturer voestalpine threatens to leave Austria.

April 18, 2014

Slovenia: “Worst Thing if Nobody Dare Do Anything”

Finance Minister Cufer stressed that financial institutes needed stable guidance and confidence to continue their restructuring paths.

April 17, 2014

Industrial Location Austria Losing Attractiveness

Among other things, labor costs and energy prices are too high, according to the Austrian Federation of Industries.

April 16, 2014

Austria: RLB OÖ Rows Bank on Threat to Leave

Last year regional lender RLB OÖ (Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich), part of Raiffeisen group, saw a decline of six percent in its balance sheet totals while the operating results increased by almost three percent.

April 16, 2014

Hungary: Orban Faces Re-Election

Tomorrow, Sunday, Hungary holds national elections. Despite the difficult economic frame conditions in Hungary, the centre-right government is expected to be confirmed for the next four years.

April 5, 2014

Leitl: “Growth Must Not Mean Less Reforms”

Economic growth is now weaker than in the previous phases of upturn.

March 28, 2014

Austria: Reform Steps Very Modest

Austria, along with Germany and Switzerland, hardly put any economic reforms into realization. This is the conclusion of the annual “reform barometer” for the three countries.

March 20, 2014

Belka: Poland Should Not Haste into Eurozone

Marek Belka, Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), said that the country did not have to haste to become a member of the European single currency union.

March 17, 2014

Slovenia: Commissioner Calls for Reforms and Further Privatizations

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said that Slovenia had to continue to push forward with further privatizations and economic reforms.

March 6, 2014

Fitch Keeps Slovak Rating Unchanged

Slovakia´s issuer default rating was kept unchanged at “A+”. The outlooks remain stable.

March 1, 2014

Slovenia: SMEs Protest Against Real Estate Tax

Tax bills would rise by many times for small business owners.

February 24, 2014

“Polish Economy at Crossroads“

In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“, Ryszard Petru, chairman of the Society of Policy Economists, sees high chances for the Polish economy; however, only if the country knows how to support innovation.

February 21, 2014

Fitch Keeps Rating for Austria at High Level

According to the Rating agency the downsizing of Hypo Group will burden the debt rate. However, the outlook for the country’s credibility was left at a “stable” outlook.

February 21, 2014

CESEE: Stuck in Transition or Just a Break?

Despite all difficulties in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the region remains essential for Austria. The long-term growth potential remains intact.

February 6, 2014 · Updated: February 6, 2014; 13:41

Romania: Remarkable Development Since 2000

The advisory firm pwc has compiled a study on the economic progress of advanced and emerging economies. Poland and Romania are one of the top performers.

February 5, 2014

“Croatia Going through Very Difficult Period“

The World Bank calls for structural reforms in the Western Balkan state.

January 27, 2014

Audit Court Criticizes Austrian Government Sharply

Josef Moser, president of the Austrian Audit Court, has sharply criticized the government’s resolution.

January 17, 2014

Austria: On Verge of Losing Business Attractiveness

The new tax package does not only burden car drivers and smokers but also the economy will have to contribute to the budget with several hundreds of millions of Euros annually.

January 15, 2014

Polish Government to Focus on Social Security

According to Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the reduction of unemployment and the improvement of social security will be priority issues in 2014.

January 13, 2014

„Such Growth Rates Will not Return“

In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, economist Karl Aiginger explains that the worst should be over. The reform pressure on the Austrian government is enormous.

December 30, 2013

„CESEE No Driver Yet“

Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, thinks that the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly influenced by the CESEE operations of listed companies.

December 23, 2013

Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.

December 18, 2013

Labor Costs: No Clear Trend in CESEE

In the Baltic countries and in Romania, unit labor costs rose most. In Slovenia and in the Czech Republic, by contrast, unit labor costs were down.

December 18, 2013

Emerging Markets Face Decrease in Risk Appetite

Foreign investors become more and more cautious about investing in emerging markets. Regions like Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are highly dependent on foreign sentiments.

December 14, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Has to Fear Bank Tax Increase

At the end of this week, the Austrian social democrats and the conservatives agreed on continuing their coalition. Although the fiscal strategy is not fully known yet, a bank tax increase is likely.

December 14, 2013

Austrian Business Location in Danger?

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) has carried out a survey on the Austrian business location. Most interviewees are pessimistic.

December 14, 2013

Croatia: Major Investments to Boost Economic Growth

The Croatian government on Thursday adopted an investment plan for 2014 which includes large-scale investments, amounting to as much as HRK 73.1 billion.

December 13, 2013

Bulgaria: Prime Minister Stresses Positive Development

Plamen Oresharski stressed that Bulgaria has performed better than expected in 2013.

December 10, 2013

EU/CESEE: Real Income Shrinks

In 2013, the real income will do down in Austria. Since 2010, the Austrian real income was down by 1.3%. In Hungary, real income fell by 15% in that period.

December 9, 2013

Bank of Albania Presses for Agreement with IMF

The Albanian economy from short-term adjustment toward long-term sustainable growth. Why Albania needs an agreement with the IMF.

December 4, 2013

Sevelda: „We Are Close to the Breaking Point“

In a guest comment published by the Austrian business magazine Format, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International Karl Sevelda refers to the high burden for Austrian banks.

November 29, 2013

Austria: High Tax Country

According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.

November 19, 2013

CESEE: Economic Turnaround Ahead

Ruchir Sharma, fund manager at Morgan Stanley stresses that Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe is more attractive than the BRICS countries.

November 12, 2013

Albania: Domestic Banks Struggling to Keep Up

According to a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Albanian financial sector is dominated by foreign banks. Domestic banks are struggling to keep up with the internationally operating competition.

November 8, 2013

Austria: Competitiveness Suffers from Poor Infrastructure

According to infrastructure report “FBA“ (Future Business Austria), the Austrian business location is suffering from poor infrastructure which leads to the country missing out on a productivity potential of almost € 34bn.

November 5, 2013

WEF: Russian Economy Needs Change in Domestic Institutional Environment

The Russian Federation is poised for transformation.

November 1, 2013

Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU

Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.

October 31, 2013

Prosperity Index: Poland Moves Upwards

Above all, Poland´s strengths are seen in the fields of security and safety.

October 31, 2013

CESEE: Poland is Most Business-Friendly

According to the latest “Doing Business” report published by the World Bank, Poland is the most business-friendly country in the CESEE region.

October 29, 2013

Slovenia: Banka Sparkasse Provided with Loan by EIB

EIB continues to support SME and mid-cap projects in Slovenia.

October 22, 2013

Croatia: EU-Membership Did Not Help Yet

In the first months of its EU membership, the situation in Croatia´s industrial sector deteriorated further.

October 19, 2013
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