In January 2003, the EU Commission published details of the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Core elements of this reform are the reduction of intervention prices (for grain and milk) and the decoupling of direct payments from production. Several countries (including Austria)...

In the OECD countries, the recovery from the slump of 2001 was slow and painful. According to preliminary figures, these countries managed a growth in GDP of 1.3 percent in 2002, compared to 0.8 percent in 2001. In view of the geopolitical vagaries of the second half of 2002, demand for...

Consistent with proposals provided by the OECD, the practice of linking the Common Agricultural Policy with agricultural production was abandoned after the 2003 reform. Another substantial change was expected from the 2013 reform. In line with the OECD principle, the provision of public goods...

Throughout 2001, economic growth in the USA, Japan and the European Union was clearly losing momentum. In line with this development, Austria also recorded a marked slow-down in its pace of economic growth. While the economy had still been growing at a rate of 3 percent in 2000, macroeconomic...

In 2013, the cash-flow-to-sales ratio of the Austrian manufacturing sector reached an estimated 9.0 percent, a value significantly below the long-run average of 9.6 percent. The persistently muted performance of the manufacturing sector has affected the cash-flow-to-sales ratio, which declined...

In response to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has so far led to the Crimea being annexed by Russia, the USA and EU have introducted sanctions against individuals by way of refusing their entry and blocking their bank accounts and are threatening to increase the circle of those...

In response to poor cyclical prospects and low inflationary expectations, the ECB introduces non-standard purchasing programmes and adds securities of higher risk to its assets. Jean-Claude Juncker is confirmed President of the European Commission by the European Parliament. The European Council...

The WIFO Business Cycle Survey serves as an important early-indication tool for the economic situation in Austria. Using a Markov regime-switching model, it is possible to determine at an early point in time whether the business cycle is in its upward or downward mode. Regime probabilities are...

The European Central Bank starts to purchase government bonds of euro-zone countries; the Expanded Asset Purchase Programme (EAPP) is intended to increase liquidity in order to ward off the risks of a prolonged low inflation phase. Greece requires more financial aid. The sanctions imposed by the...

As of 1997, private adjustable-rate loan contracts must be provided with a clause governing interest rate changes which meets the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act. This legal stipulation is of particular importance for private loans granted by banks and for loans to individuals. More...