Education Policy

OECD Criticizes Gender Pay Gap in Austria

Although the education level of women has improved in the last decades, a greater education attainment level of women is not matched with labour market outcomes, OECD says.

December 17, 2012

Kazakhstan: „Among the Top 30 in 2050“

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev predicts an economic boom in the next decades.

December 15, 2012

Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 3)

Economists think that the budget does not contain enough reform steps. The opposition does not see any signs of progress.

October 16, 2012

EU Wants Austria to Reduce Bureaucracy

The Commission of the EU has presented its concept for the re-industrialization of Europe. Austria is well-positioned, but there is some potential for improvement.

October 13, 2012

Czech Government Attempts to Stimulate Growth

On the one hand, the Czech government deepens the austerity measures. On the other hand, growth-stimulating investments should be initiated.

October 13, 2012

Austrian Employment Growing Moderately Until 2016

The Austrian economic research institute WIFO forecasts that 173,000 new jobs will be created until 2016.

September 25, 2012

Austrian Share of Academics Below OECD-Average

In Austria, only 21% of the persons aged between 25 and 34 are graduated. This is massively below the OECD-average of 38%.

September 20, 2012

OECD: Czech Spending on Education too Low

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development criticizes the Czech government. Expenditure on education only reach 4.8% of GDP, which is below the OECD average of 6.2%.

September 12, 2012

Education: Vranitzky Shows Dissatisfaction with Austrian Government

The former Austrian Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky criticizes the Austrian government sharply. For him, the university sector is a “very bad example of inequality between the generations”.

August 29, 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

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

IV: „Budget Consolidation Supports Economic Growth“

The Federation of Austrian Industries pushes for structural reforms in order to cut public expenses.

June 8, 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

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 Budget Target Endangered

In spite of decreasing revenues and rising expenses, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter expects to reach the budget target.

May 30, 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

"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 Chamber of Economics Claims Growth Package

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce thinks that Austria and Europe would both need growth and austerity measures.

May 25, 2012

Life Quality: Austria in the Upper Middle Field

Austria´s position in the “Better Life Index” is in the upper middle field. The work-life balance and the education are seen as weaknesses.

May 22, 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

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

1.0 Million People in Poverty

More than 150,000 people in Austria do not have a bank account. A lack in financial education causes a loss of 1.0% of GDP.

April 23, 2012

Competitiveness: Austria Among Top Five

Concerning its competitiveness, Austria ranks fifth among the 27 EU members.

April 6, 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

Budget: Wifo Misses Future Investments

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (Wifo) commented the government´s draft of the budget. There is still a lack in active fiscal policy, Wifo states.

March 26, 2012

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

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

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

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

Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“

The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.

January 24, 2012

Austerity: Unions Versus Industrialists

The Austrian trade unions want to impose property taxes, the Federation of Austrian Industries seeks cuts in spending.

January 21, 2012

Government to Sharpen Austerity Measures

After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds from „AAA“ to „AA+“ by S&P, the Austrian government aims to reach its austerity targets earlier.

January 17, 2012

ÖVP Does Not Exclude New Taxes Anymore

Against previous statements, the head of the Austrian conservatives, Michael Spindelegger, considers to introduce new taxes.

January 9, 2012

Austria Grants Highest Subsidies in Europe

In 2010, subsidies amounting to 6.5% of the Austrian GDP were distributed. The EU-average is only the half.

January 7, 2012

Austerity Package: Business Association Warns of New Taxes

New taxes would be an “attack against the economy”, general secretary Peter Haubner says.

January 4, 2012

Sorger Asks For Investments in Education and R&D

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Veit Sorger, calls for future investments.

January 3, 2012

Austrian Industry Supports Audit Court

For the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), the administration has to be reformed immediately. Future investments are needed instead of administrative expenses.

December 5, 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

Level of General Financial Education in Austria “Not Satisfactory”

Latest survey shows: 4 in 10 Austrians don’t even know where to start when defining term “interest”.

September 27, 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 Minister of Science: € 1.00bn for Universities

Karlheinz Töchterle (ÖVP), announced that Austrian universities may receive € 1.00bn from 2013 to 2015 separately. However, critics already commented the plan.

September 12, 2011

Industry Raises Alarm over Lack of Technicians and Apprentices

voestalpine CEO Eder and WKÖ president Leitl call for measures against the shortage of skilled personnel. They want to increase the attractiveness of technical jobs and raise the retirement age.

August 23, 2011

WIFI International Expanding into Albania

The education provider continues its internationalization strategy and is now active in nine CEE/SEE countries.

June 24, 2011

Industrial Association Demands Modernization of School System

The Austrian Industrial Association emphasizes the role of school and the need for reforming the educational system as the economy already suffers from a skills shortage.

May 17, 2011

Austria's Manufacturing Industry Warns of a Shortage of Apprentices in the Technological Field

There is a shortage of applicants for the manufacturing industry-related and production-oriented technology areas; the demographic trends will intensify the problem.

May 13, 2011

WIFI International: Partnership with TOBB University of Ankara

The Austrian (WKÖ) and the Turkish (TOBB) Economic Chambers have signed a Letter of Intent for an educational partnership with WIFI.

May 11, 2011

Austrian Educational Level Rises

Educational level of young people aged 15 to 34 compared with their parents: Trend towards higher education.

April 28, 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
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