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Competitiveness
Austria's Competition Watchdogs Criticize Concentration on Gas Market
The Federal Competition Authority (BWB) and the regulatory authority E-Control recently presented the second interim report of their joint Electricity & Gas Task Force. This investigation is a reaction to the developments in the Austrian energy markets, which are characterized by strongly fluctuating prices and high market concentration.
August 20, 2024
Finance Ministers from German-speaking Countries Adopt Lake Constance Declaration to Strengthen Competitiveness
Finance ministers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg met in picturesque Vorarlberg, Austria, to adopt the so-called "Lake Constance Declaration". This landmark declaration aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy while safeguarding the continent's prosperity and stability.
August 13, 2024
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
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