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
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