In this study we use a long run macroeconomic model for Austria to simulate the effects of aging on employment, output growth, and the solvency of the social security system. By disaggregating the population into six age cohorts and modelling sex specific participation rates for each cohort, we...

We integrate age specific productivity differentials into a long-run neoclassical growth model for the Austrian economy with a highly disaggregated labor supply structure. We assume two life time productivity profiles reflecting either small or large hump-shaped productivity differentials and...

Compared to Europe in general, firm pension schemes are a relatively rare phenomenon in Austria. Whereas on a European average, every second worker is included in a form of firm pension scheme, in Austria only one in six dependently employed workers can lay claims on a company pension. The WIFO...

In an international hierarchy of labour costs, Austria currently ranks 9th and is thus well within the EU average. Labour is most expensive in Norway, where one hour of work is paid 34 percent higher than in Austria, followed by Denmark (+29 percent), Germany (+26 percent) and Switzerland (+24...

The unit labour cost position of Austrian businesses improved clearly in the second half of the 1990s and has remained largely stable since the year 2000. In Austrian manufacturing, one hour of blue-collar labour cost 20.80 € in 2004, hence approximately 2.25 percent less than the average paid...

The stormy years following introduction of the single market appear to be over at last. In spite of the fact that the premium level in the main segments was cut for good, insurers were for the first time able to impose substantial increases in premium rates in 2001, a development which is...

In 2002, private insurers saw their revenues from premiums grow in alignment with GDP at current prices. Due to price increases, property and liability insurance once again expanded its traditional dominance. For 2003, revenues from premiums are expected to rise slightly above the growth rate of...

In 2000, private insurance companies achieved a premium growth similar to their successful performance in the previous year. All insurance categories once again recorded a boost in their sales. Life insurance continues to be the sector's main engine. At a growth rate of one eighth, the share of...

Austria currently takes 11th place in an international ranking of unit labour costs. Labour is most expensive in Norway, Germany and Switzerland, where one hour of manufacturing labour costs almost a quarter more than in Austria. In Austrian manufacturing, one hour of work cost € 20.31 in...