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Competitiveness
2,000 New Jobs Created by Foreign Enterprises
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of foreign direct investment in Vienna. Last year, 126 foreign enterprises came to Vienna.
March 22, 2012
Corruption: Costs of € 27bn for Austrian Economy
Experts say that corruption increases in Austria. In 2012, adverse effects of € 27bn are expected.
March 16, 2012
„The Public Sector Does not Get Enough“
Klaus Pöttinger, President of Upper Austria´s IV takes Switzerland as model. Taxes would be too high, efficiency of the public sector is too low, he says.
March 9, 2012
Leitl: „Austerity Package Is Not Enough“
For Christoph Leitl, the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), the recently resolved austerity package does not contain the essential reforms.
March 9, 2012
Viennese Office Market: Collapse Threatens
Although office rents are relatively low in Austria´s capital, multinational companies tend to establish their headquarters elsewhere. Real estate experts fear a vicious circle.
March 5, 2012
Austria: Low Attractiveness as Research Location
According to a study among European scientists, Austria loses its reputation. The most attractive destination is the U.S.
February 27, 2012
Fekter: „Austerity Package is Structural Reform Package“
In spite of criticism by economists, for the Austrian Minister of Finance, the austerity package is a “big success”.
February 20, 2012
Leitl Pushes for Reforms
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce appreciates that actions worsening the Austrian business location conditions were prevented.
February 15, 2012
Austerity Package Has Lack in Structural Reforms
The industrialists regard the Austrian austerity package even-tempered. WIFO misses structural reforms.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind
Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.
February 7, 2012
Euro-Crisis: Austrian Managers are Optimistic
In spite of the current euro-crisis, most Austrian managers believe that the currency will remain. Moreover, a deepening of the cooperation between EU-member states is expected.
February 6, 2012
Sorger „Focusing on Business Location“
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Veit Sorger, reaffirmed the strengthen Austria´s economic competitiveness.
February 4, 2012
Study on „Economic Freedom“: Austria Falls
In the global ranking of the U.S. “Heritage foundation”, Austria only occupies rank 28. The government would not introduce enough reforms, bureaucracy would be too high.
January 13, 2012
Tax Returns Take 170 Hours
In order to settle their tax duties, Austrian companies have to take much time compared to other EU members.
December 13, 2011
Slow Progress in Transport Industry
The Austrian transport sector recovered in 2011. However, 2012 is expected to become a difficult year. Goods traffic declined drastically between 2006 and 2010.
December 7, 2011
Economic Stability: Austria Occupies Top Rank
According to a study by Allianz, Austria has the third rank among the EU countries.
December 7, 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
Austrian Industry Shows High Degree of Internationality
During the last decades, the Austrian industry could gain importance, which is contrarious to the European trend. In meantime, Austria has the fourth highest degree of industrialization in the EU.
October 18, 2011
Austria´s Manufacturing Industry Maintains its Competitiveness
Austrian goods exports rose significantly since 1995. According to a study of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), this is mainly due to a higher degree of competitiveness.
October 17, 2011
Austria Ranks Third in EU Productivity Study
The report points out structural weaknesses and suggests more effective public spending in the fields of education, research and innovation.
October 14, 2011
Austrian Government: Sharp Critics from Industrialists
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) attacks the government massively. For the industrialists, the new taxation plans are not acceptable.
October 8, 2011
FDI Remains Essential for Austrian Business Location
According to a study of Statistics Austria, the number of foreign subsidiaries even grew in 2009 by 6%. The number of Austrian subsidiaries owned by foreign corporations grew slightly.
October 5, 2011
Mitterlehner: „Settlement of Headquarters Key Question for Austria“
The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, wants to push the development of the domestic location through improving framework requirements steadily.
October 4, 2011
Austria Catches Up as IT Business Location
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Austria could improve its position as IT business location and went from rank 22 to rank 17.
September 27, 2011
Austrian Unit Labor Costs Down in 2010
The Austrian competitiveness improved in 2010. Against 2010, unit labor costs decreased by 5.5%.
September 20, 2011
„Education at a Glance“: Austria Falls Behind
According to the study of the OECD, Austria has a slightly rising level of graduates. Nevertheless, the difference to the OECD average is still substantial.
September 13, 2011
Austrian Competitiveness Shrinks Further
According to a market survey of the consulting group Ernst & Young, Austria´s international competitiveness has still worsened and fell from rank 18 to 19.
September 7, 2011
Lack of Reforms as a Threat for Start-Ups
The organization of young entrepreneurs demands improvement of framework conditions for start-up enterprises.
July 26, 2011
Economic Report 2011: Government Surprised by Quick Recovery
Experts praise Austria’s relatively stable performance during the years of crisis and call for reforms necessary for ensuring the country’s competitiveness.
July 8, 2011
Upswing in Business Location Projects
The national investment promotion agency registered a strong increase in the number of companies investing in Austria. The trend is expected to continue in 2011.
July 8, 2011
Economic Council Met for the First Time
Representatives from business and politics came together in the Federal Chancellery. The round of talks will be held three to four times a year.
July 4, 2011
„Austria Is Losing Its Competitiveness“
The Industrial Association’s president sees a “dramatic deterioration” of Austria’s competitiveness as a business location and criticizes a lack of respect for industrialists.
May 18, 2011
Leitl: "Reforms, Despite the Positive economic Outlook Should Not Be Forgotten"
Spring forecast by the EU Commission: Clearly improved growth prospects for Austria and the European Union
May 14, 2011
"Need for Improvement" in Austria's Capital Market
According to a study by Ernst &Young;, the domestic capital market shows deficits particularly in the areas of investor protection, the depth of the capital markets and corporate governance.
May 10, 2011
Labor Chamber: Productivity Grew Significantly More Than Salary Increases
Personnel costs per employee of Austrian companies, according to the Labor Chamber (AK) have grown less than half as strong as productivity since 2003.
April 30, 2011
Austrian Research Intensity Expected to be 2.79% of GDP in 2011
According to an estimate of Statistics Austria, for the first time presumably more than €8 billion will be spent on research and experimental development (R&D) in 2011.
April 19, 2011
Real Purchasing Power: The Gap Between Austria and the CEE Region is Getting Smaller
For the coming years, a steady rise in unit labor costs in the CEE countries with the corresponding impact on the competition for business locations is expected.
April 16, 2011
Manufacturing Industry Sharply Criticizes the Union
Employees' proposals are not very productive, the Austrian Industrial Association says. There is no shift from wages toward corporate profits.
March 22, 2011
Austria's Businesses Satisfied with Government Research Initiative
The strategy of the Federal Government regarding RTI (Research, Technology and Innovation) is an important step for the location Austria, according to the opinion of the Economic Chamber.
March 9, 2011
Optimism in Austria's Creative Industries
Creatives wish to go new ways to support SMEs with creative services. The economic and technical network is to be intensified.
March 3, 2011
Leitl Fears Falling Back behind Asia
During a state visit to Singapore the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) again urges the Austrian government to undertake reforms.
February 24, 2011
Shortage of Highly Skilled Workers in Austria
The lack of highly qualified employees in Austria turns into an increasingly strong competitive disadvantage.
February 18, 2011
Eder Considers European Manufacturing Industry is at a Disadvantage
For the CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, the European manufacturing industry is at a disadvantage, despite innovative leadership.
February 5, 2011
Leitl Urges to Invest in the Future
Despite consolidation needs, the government has to invest more in education, research and innovation, says the President of the WKÖ.
February 4, 2011
Innovativeness in Austria Drops
In the European comparison, Austria’s innovativeness is dropping and is presently located only in the upper mid-range.
February 2, 2011
Germany: Largest Investor in Austria
Based on the number of new companies settling in Austria, Germany is the largest investor. More than 40% of the new arrivals come from the northern neighbor.
January 25, 2011
Austria's AAA Credit Rating Confirmed
The U.S. rating agency Moody's confirms the Republic of Austria’s Triple-A rating. The outlook remains "stable".
January 21, 2011
Austria's Competitiveness Increases Slightly
Austria rose one place, to the 21st, in the ranking of the most liberal economies.
January 14, 2011
WIFO: Lack of Competition in Austria
According to WIFO, lack of competition is causing a growth bottleneck in Austria and requires legal action by the government and the EU.
December 29, 2010