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Competitiveness
Polish Business Service Sector Booming
In 2011, 38 new business service centers were established in Poland. The number of employees doubled since 2009.
August 4, 2012
IHS Pleads for Inheritance Tax
Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies, thinks that an inheritance tax would be a contribution for more equality.
August 4, 2012
Aiginger: „Feeding Banks Makes No Sense“
The director of WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) thinks that Spanish banks must be able to become insolvent.
July 24, 2012
„Competitors are Still Far Away“
Vienna is under pressure. The Austrian capital has to compete with Warsaw, Budapest and Prague as headquarters location for the CESEE region.
July 23, 2012
Staff Efficiency: CESEE Catches Up
Regarding staff efficience, Eastern Europe has reached almost the West European level.
July 21, 2012
Growing Pressure on Viennese Location for Headquarters
The Viennese Chamber of Commerce intensifies the dialogue with international headquarters. In autumn, the first headquarter congress will take place in Vienna.
July 21, 2012
"Wage Cuts in Southern Europe Inevitable"
Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies thinks that a fiscal union will not work. The recession in Southern Europe will go on.
July 21, 2012
Austrian Industry Urges Government to Continue Austerity Policies
The Austrian government has to perform its job in order to retain competitiveness and economic growth in future. Finance Minister Fekter is highly satisfied with the government´s economic report.
July 10, 2012
„Austria Is Well Situated, but Needs Reforms Urgently“
Austria´s economic perspectives are slightly positive. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce reaffirmed its call for regional economic reforms.
June 30, 2012
Strong Increase in Unit Labor Costs
Since 2008, the Austrain economy records a disproportionately high increase in unit labor costs. The average of the eurozone amounts to 6.4%. In Austria, the unit labor costs were up by 11.1%.
June 29, 2012
Leitl: „Securing Austria´s Top Ranking“
WKO´s President Christoph Leitl calls for reforms. In order retain Austria´s economic position, reforms should be accelerated and taxes should be cut.
June 27, 2012
Investment Attractivity: Poland Ranks Second
According to Ernst & Young, the most attractive location for investments in Europe is Germany, which is followed by its Eastern Neighbour Poland.
June 25, 2012
New IV´s President Dissatisfied with Political System
The corruption scandals oft he past would damage Austria´s reputation as business location, Georg Kapsch thinks.
June 23, 2012
„Austria Must Not Become Mediocre“
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) call for an acceleration of reforms as the Austrian position in competitive rankings deteriorates.
June 18, 2012
Fekter Defends Euro Aids
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlines the „necessity of solidarity“ and stressed ist commitment to the common currency. The Austria opposition party FPÖ made a serious protest.
June 16, 2012
„We Won´t Get Any Money Back“
The former director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) does not think that Greece is able to pay back its debt. Nevertheless, Felderer still believes in the euro.
June 9, 2012
IV: „Budget Consolidation Supports Economic Growth“
The Federation of Austrian Industries pushes for structural reforms in order to cut public expenses.
June 8, 2012
Austrian R&D Expenses Rise to € 8.61bn
In 2012, R&D expenses are expected rise by 4.0% in Austria. The bulk of R&D expenses is contributed by enterprises.
June 6, 2012
Launch of 21st Austria Initiative
The heads of renowned corporations intend to highlight Austria's economic expertise on the international stage with the "21st Austria" initiative.
June 5, 2012
EU Calls on Austria to Accelerate Reforms
Austria has to put more effort in reforms. In the fields of education, labor market, retirement plan and budget consolidation, Austria shows deficits.
June 1, 2012
Austria´s Education Does not Keep up with Globalization
The Austrian economy suffers from a lack in skilled labor. Facing the rising competitiveness of emerging countries, this may become a major problem for Autria.
May 31, 2012
Austrian Business Location: Further Slump in Competitiveness
According to the Swiss Management Institute IMD, Austria only ranks 21th among 59 analyzed countries. The Austrian tax policy is the absolute weak point.
May 31, 2012
The Euro - A Big Error (Part 4)
The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.
May 31, 2012
Austrian Industry: „Growth Instead of Redistribution“
After the Austrian Chamber of Labor claimed he Federation of Austrian Industry underlines that Austria has the highest redistribution quota among OECD members.
May 30, 2012
Vienna Tops Worldwide Ranking of "Smart Cities"
The online magazine "Co.Exist" put's Austria's capital at the top of a list of "smart cities" ahead of Toronto, New York and Berlin.
May 29, 2012
The Euro - A Big Error (Part 3)
The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.
May 29, 2012
"Europe Needs Economic Growth and Budget Discipline“
Structural reforms are necessary to make Europe sustainably more competitive, Christoph Leitl, President of Austria´s Chamber of Commerce (WKO) says.
May 26, 2012
Austrian Industrial Sector Pushes for Austerity
The Federation of Austrian Industries sees still a huge potential to reduce public expenses and underlines the importance of the industrial sector.
May 22, 2012
“Three Problems of Europe: Divergence, Indebtedness and Weak Banks”
The new director of the Austrian IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) Christian Keuschnigg thinks that a Greek exit would have to take place suddenly.
May 21, 2012
Sorger Underlines Austrian Crisis Management
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries Veit Sorger reaffirms the necessity of austerity and investments of the private sector.
May 19, 2012
Androsch Criticizes Political Inactivity
The former Austrian Finance Minister and industrialist Hannes Androsch thinks that both austerity and growth strategies are needed and criticizes the government sharply.
May 18, 2012
Austrian Innovations on the Rise in Export Markets
The patent statistics clearly show that Austrian companies and inventors are becoming ever more prominently positioned on the international markets.
May 18, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Austria Needs More Federalism“
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) considers that a decentralization of the fiscal policy would bring more competition between the provinces.
May 18, 2012
Keuschnigg Worries About Austria´s Competitiveness
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) Christian Keuschnigg suggests reforming the Austrian labor market. The welfare state would be too sophisticated.
May 15, 2012
A “Speech to Austria”? No.
The disenchantment with politics in Austria is as big as never before. An ambitious, but meaningless speech of Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger will not change the misery.
May 15, 2012
Eder: „Not Making Mistakes of UK and USA“
The CEO of Austria´s largest steel producer voestalpine warns of a de-industrialization in Europe. Today, the UK and the USA would regret their decisions of the past.
May 14, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Problem Countries Must Cut Wages“
The designated director of the Austrian IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) thinks that a drastic wage cut in Greece, Portugal and Spain is inevitable.
May 12, 2012
„Combining Austerity and Growth Measures“
The Austrian Minister of Economics and the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce claim a European growth strategy without turning down austerity policies.
May 11, 2012
Constant Rise in Austrian Research Spending
Austrian spending on research and development is set to increase by 4.2% in 2012 to reach € 8.6bn.
May 10, 2012
Leitl: „EU Needs Budget Consolidation and Growth Measures“
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce claims to create a European fund in order to support small and medium-sized enterprises.
May 5, 2012
ESM: The Final Ruin of Europe
Solidarity with financially stricken EU countries cannot justify the irrevocable loss of national sovereignty. The transfer union will only work until the financial collapse of Germany and Austria.
May 2, 2012
Austria As High-Tax Country
According to the World Bank and PwC, enterprises have to bear a relatively high tax burden in Austria.
April 25, 2012
Austrian Research Intensity to Reach 2.80% in 2012
According to a forecast of Statistics Austria, € 8.6bn are expected to be spent on research and development (R&D).
April 25, 2012
Labor Costs: Austria in the Upper Third
Hourly labor costs ranged between € 3.5 and € 39.3 in the EU27 Member States. In Austria, labor costs reach € 29.20.
April 24, 2012
Felderer: „Women Must Have More Children”
The director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) sees a demographic problem in Austria as well as in Europe. Migration cannot solve the problem, Felderer says.
April 19, 2012
Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans
The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.
April 17, 2012
Competitiveness: Austria Among Top Five
Concerning its competitiveness, Austria ranks fifth among the 27 EU members.
April 6, 2012
FDI: Cautious Optimism in Slovakia
Austrian and German investors are still optimistic concerning Slovakia´s economy. The majority expects a slight acceleration of Slovakia´s economy growth.
April 3, 2012
Most Important Cities: Vienna Catches Up
In the ranking of the most important global cities, the Austrian capital could improve substantially. The most severe weakness is the economic activity.
April 3, 2012
Austria Must Underline its Headquarter Function
Austria as hub for CEE markets is still popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack in a sustainable and flexible strategy. The geographical proximity to CEE countries is insufficient.
April 2, 2012