Retirement Plan

„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

Poland: Pension Scheme Reform to be Eased

At the beginning of September, Poland´s government decided to re-nationalize the pension system. Now, the government considers relativizing the reform.

September 28, 2013

Austrian Budget: Pensions as Risk Factor

Until 2017, the additional burden has a size of € 1.0bn, Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter says in an interview with “Presse”.

February 28, 2013

Poland: Rostowki’s Fight for the Euro

Even though Poland’s rating outlook has been revised from “A-“ to “A” by Fitch it still has to face political reforms in order to improve its economic competitiveness.

February 24, 2013

Fekter pleased With “Good data on Austria”

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter on Ecofin data: “We have some work to do on debt reduction and pension costs”.

February 13, 2013

Fitch: Austria´s Public Debt to Double

Due to the demographic trends, Austria faces a pension shock, Fitch says.

January 23, 2013

Austrian Experts Urge for Pension Reform

According to experts, Austrian citizens should postpone their retirement by four to five years.

September 25, 2012

Kapsch Against Excluding Greece

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) thinks that the Austrian pension system shows a substantial savings potential.

September 10, 2012

Next Pension Reform Ahead

European Forum Alpbach: In 2016, the next pension reform may be necessary in Austria.

September 1, 2012

Austrian Industry Promotes Employment of Older Workers

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) argues that the state budget may reduce pension costs by € 7.4bn if the reforms of Germany were implemented in Austria too.

August 29, 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

Austerity Package: Sorger Misses Reforms

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Veit Sorger, sees a massive lack in structural reforms. The austerity package is a “missed opportunity”.

March 3, 2012

New Criticism on Austerity Package

For the chief economist at RZB, Peter Brezinschek, the austerity package is not ambitious enough. The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, criticizes the introduction of new taxes.

February 28, 2012

Austria Will Not Get „AAA“ Back in Near Future

The economist at the German Deka bank, Ulrich Kater, does not think that Austria will be upgraded within the next years.

February 22, 2012

Company Pension Schemes Show Negative Performance

In 2011, Austrian company pension funds showed losses of 3.3%.

February 20, 2012

Retirement Plan: „Austria is Negative Example“

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) argues that Austria would be a negative example for the sustainability of the retirement plan. Early retirements should be limited, IV claims.

February 17, 2012

Youth Employment: Danger from Austerity Package

The government aims for increasing the retirement age in order to cut pension costs. Now, the director of the Austrian labor market agency (AMS) warns of a rise in youth unemployment.

February 15, 2012

Doubt and Criticism on Austerity Package

For the director of IHS, the austerity measures do not contain real reforms. The implementation could become difficult. Administration reforms and health system reforms are too low, observers say.

February 13, 2012

Austrian Government Resolves Austerity Package

Speculation terms on real estate will be abolished, the tax privilege on 13th and 14th salary too. Inheritance taxes or enrollment fees will not be re-introduced.

February 9, 2012

Austerity Package Takes Form

Although negotiations over the austerity package are not finished, first details are already known.

February 7, 2012

Government: Dispute Over Pensions

The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.

February 6, 2012

Austria Has 2.2 Million Retirees

Against 2010, the number of retirees was up by 1.3%. The average retirement age did not increase, employment of older persons could improve.

January 14, 2012

Downgrade: Government Surprised and Criticized

For the Austrian government, the downgrade by the U.S. rating agency is „not comprehensible”. The domestic industry urgently claims structural reforms.