WIFO continues, in the present paper, its report on key indicators of climate change and energy use in Austria with data for the year 2009. The indicators thus mirror the impact of the economic crisis 2008-09 on greenhouse gas emissions, and the use and consumption of energy. The...

The study on the environment industry in Austria, based on primary statistics on the production of environmental goods and services, covers the core segments of the environment industry and comprises end-of-pipe technologies as well as essential parts of clean technologies and products. By...

Austria has committed itself to reducing its greenhouse gas emission by 13 percent below 1990 levels in order to meet the Kyoto targets. Incentive-based instruments, such as the trade with emission permits, could make a contribution towards achieving the overall goal of protecting the climate....

The current crisis makes for the most difficult macro-economic environment for fiscal policy since the Second World War. The ratio of the general government deficit and of government debt to GDP each rise markedly above the "Maastricht" reference value. The structural (cyclically-adjusted)...

In order to cushion the impact of the financial and economic crisis on the real economy, the Austrian government adopted fiscal stabilisation packages. Relative to GDP, these are among the largest in an international comparison, amounting to 4.2 percent of 2008 GDP in cumulative terms and...

The tax reform 2009-10 compensates for fiscal drag and makes an important contribution towards combating the current economic crisis. It also includes elements for a better reconciliation of work and family obligations. Other essential economic goals will, however, not be achieved. Neither will...

The high public deficits expected in the coming years can largely be attributed to the budgetary effects of the financial market and economic crisis. Against the backdrop of a long term budget burden through increased debt and a demographically-related increase in expenditures, it is all the...

A stagnating economy and a marked rise in unemployment prevented the attainment of a balanced public budget in 2002. Because of the persistent cyclical weakness and of the tax reform envisaged for 2004-05, a balanced budget position will be achieved only after 2007. In spite of a noticeable...

The tax reform 2004-05 includes tax cuts within income taxation (€ –2.2 billion) and corporate taxation (€ –1.1 billion) as well as increases of several excise taxes (€ +232 million). The changes in the income tax rate scale taking effect in 2005 will increase tax progression and...

The draft federal budget for 2006 is shaped by the impact of the 2004-05 tax reform and the persistence of high unemployment. The deficits (in the Maastricht definition) in the general as well as in the federal government households will therefore narrow only to a limited extent. Expenditure and...