With a projected annual rate of 2.3 percent the Austrian economy will grow less than expected so far. Real GDP growth will lag slightly behind the mark of 2.4 percent observed between 2002 and 2007. The present downturn of the US business cycle will continue to weigh on activity in the euro area...

In the course of 2004, cyclical stimulus from the USA will lead to a recovery also in Europe that should continue over the whole projection period. The major risk derives at present from the high euro exchange rate which may hold back the momentum of the European economy. Under such external...

At 1.3 percent per year the Austrian economy will expand only half as rapidly in 2009-2013 as in 2004-2008 (2.7 percent per year). The current forecast period is characterised by very heterogeneous developments: during 2009 and 2010 the Austrian economy will be fully hit by the international...

The Austrian economy is expected to grow by 2.1 percent per year until 2010, exceeding the average rate for the euro area. The increase in external demand and the high competitiveness of domestic companies will drive exports in the years to come. The upgrading of the transportation...

Growing at an annual rate of 2.5 percent until 2011, the Austrian economy will show a significantly stronger performence as compared to the past six years when a weak economy in Europe and slack domestic demand retarded expansion. In the medium run, Austria will see its growth acceletaring at a...

Non-wage labour costs are relatively high in Austria. This is due, above all, to the level of employer contributions to social security, payroll-dependent charges, and the extent of non-productive times. If – in the interest of logical coherence – bonus payments (13th and 14th monthly...

Austria's GDP grew by just 0.3 percent in 2014, making for a sluggish economy for the third year in a row. Causes for the sluggishness were not just continued investment reticence on the part of businesses and muted expenditure on the part of private households but also the lack of any strong...

The Austrian economy is about to enter a phase of cyclical upturn that should last until 2004, when growth may rise above 3 percent. For 2005 and 2006, a marked slowdown should be expected. The business cycle is determined primarily by international developments exerting a direct impact on...

Austria's access to the European Economic Area substantially changed the competition rules governing the Austrian insurance business. Since the third generation of Directives on Insurance Services was issued, the principle of the single insurance license has been in force in the EU and the EEA,...

In view of substantial increases of national debts and the central bank money supply, it has been mooted that a high to very high inflation rate must be expected in the medium to long run. Under the condition that central banks will be able to sufficiently cut down their money stocks once the...