Karl Aiginger

Austria: Is Spindelegger Suitable as Finance Minister?

On Tuesday the Austrian Finance Minister will hold his first budget speech. Initial figures reveal record debt levels.

April 28, 2014

Wifo Warns European Council of Economic-Policy Standstill

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research sharply criticizes the current economic policy of the European Union and calls for a change of course to reach the self-defined targets.

March 19, 2014

IHS Rejects Hypo Group’s Bankruptcy

According to Keuschnig, it is also a question about a “national bankruptcy“.

February 13, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (2/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (1/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Hypo Group: Calls for Bankruptcy Become Louder

The Austrian government wants to prevent the bankruptcy of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, there are better arguments for an orderly insolvency.

February 3, 2014

CEE: Economic Sentiment Cautiously Optimistic

The economic sentiment for Eastern European countries is becoming more optimistic, however, only cautiously. Poland is on top of the list of economists at JP Morgan.

January 2, 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

Austria: Wifo’s Estimates More Optimistic

Wifo forecasts Austria to keep its growth advantage if “smart” consolidation measures are carried out by the government.

November 20, 2013

Austria: Compulsory Levy on Assets Simply “Out of Question“

Top bankers and economists in Austria consider the compulsory levy of ten percent on household assets “out of question” and “ludicrous”.

November 5, 2013

Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.

September 24, 2013

Austria: Tax Burden Grows

The Austrian public revenue ratio is significantly above the average tax quota in the Eurozone. The upward trend goes on.

September 21, 2013

Wifo: Economy Remains Competitive Despite High Wages

Head of Wifo (Austrian Institute for Economic Research), Karl Aiginger, calls for a change of views in economic policy as competitiveness is more than just low costs.

September 18, 2013

Austria: Fekter Demands “More Intelligent Model“ for Hypo

Finance Minister Fekter plans on introducing a “more creative model“ than a bad bank.

September 17, 2013

IHS/WIFO: Austrian Hypo Group Needs Bad Bank

Christian Keuschnigg and Karl Aiginger claim that the nationalized Austrian bank should be split into a “good” and a “bad” part. Austria´s public debt would increase substantially.

September 16, 2013

Austria: How to Keep Enterprises (from Drifting Away)

At the moment, there is a subtle fear in Austria’s economy that large enterprises are going to outsource to foreign countries which is currently the case with voestalpine.

March 19, 2013

Austria: Public Spending Ratio Forces Country to Reforms

Austria’s economy is stronger than the European average, however, it is still in need of reforms. Suggestions are made by head of WIFO Aiginger who demands a new strategy until 2025.

March 2, 2013

Austria: Economic Outlook Remains Cautious

Although Austria´s economy suffers from a number of major defects, the performance is still better than in the Eurozone.

February 25, 2013

Aiginger Praises and Criticizes Austria´s Economic Policy

Although Austria´s economic situation is relatively satisfying, there is much improvement potential, the economist Karl Aiginger says.

January 5, 2013

WIFO: South Europe Needs New Industrial Policy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) stresses that Spain, Greece and Portugal need new growth measures instead of austerity cuts.

December 15, 2012

WIFO: South Europe Needs Change in Strategy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) underlines that the austerity policy in South European countries did not help at all.

December 12, 2012

WIFO: Economic Outlook for Austria Worsens

According to the Austrian economic research institute WIFO, the economic framework conditions indicate a further slowdown.

September 28, 2012

Grexit: Aiginger Warns of Shock in the Balkan Region

Wifo´s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) director Karl Aiginger thinks that a Greek exit would not only cause big problems for Greece itself, but for the whole Balkan region.

August 21, 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

WIFO Wants Unlimited Firewall

According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the firewall must be big enough in order to make speculation against the euro unattractive.

June 28, 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

Economic Upswing for Austria?

The economic research institutes IHS and WIFO anticipate that the Austrian economy accelerates by summer 2012. Both warn of “too much euphoria”, however.

March 29, 2012

Banks have CEE-Subsidiaries „Under Control“

RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic criticizes the skepticism against banking in Central and Eastern Europe. The economist Aiginger sees more advantages than risks for Austrian banks.

March 21, 2012

„Banks are the Real Austrian Problem“

The Austrian opposition criticizes the rescue of VBAG by the government massively. Further bank aids are feared.

February 28, 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

Austerity Package Has Lack in Structural Reforms

The industrialists regard the Austrian austerity package even-tempered. WIFO misses structural reforms.

February 11, 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

Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“

The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.

January 15, 2012

„We Are at the Tipping Point“

2012 will be a crucial year for Europe and Austria, says the director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO). The coming decade will be coined by debt reduction.

January 5, 2012

Industry Wants to Suspend Banking Tax

The new capital requirements for banks are criticized by the Federation of Austrian Industries and the research institute WIFO.

December 29, 2011

WIFO Alarms: Petrol Price Has to Increase

The petrol price should be increased annually by six percent. Tobacco should be more expensive as well, claims WIFO’s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) head Karl Aiginger. However, taxes on labor should fall.

October 24, 2011

WIFO Claims Property Tax

Karl Aiginger, CEO of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research calls for a significant increase in taxation of real estate and fuel.

October 24, 2011

Wifo Cuts Growth Forecast for 2012

The research institute sees the current economic upward trend coming to an end but does not expect a recession in Europe.

August 31, 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

Styria: "The crisis is over"

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) considers that the federal province hit extremely hard by the economic crisis has resumed the upward trend.

April 9, 2011

WIFO Promotes Expansion of the State Holding

The Director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research wants to concentrate all Austrian state-owned enterprises in the ÖIAG.

February 5, 2011

Reform Backlog Prevents Austria Being a Success Model

The chairman of the WIFO, Karl Aiginger considers that Austria’s future capital has been gambled away because of lack of reforms. The EU, however, is "not on track" either.

January 19, 2011

WIFO Director: "Crisis was not Taken Advantage of to Introduce Reforms"

In an interview with the newspaper "Kurier", the head of the WIFO criticizes the lack of commitment to reforms. His perspectives for Austria are nevertheless optimistic.

December 30, 2010

WIFO-Boss Aiginger Calls Government for Economization

Aiginger claims for reforms in the tax system

October 17, 2010
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