In 2008 a working hour cost Austrian manufacturers € 31.40, 12.0 percent more than the average of the other EU-15 countries. This sum is made up of a wage share of € 16.70 plus € 14.70 in non-wage labour costs. At 88 percent, the incidental costs were slightly lower than in the previous year.

Drawing on the data of the EU-SILC 2004-2006, this article analyses wage differences between women and men in Austria. The importance of factors that influence wage differences is quantified by estimating wage regressions. Among employees working full time, women earn on average 22 percent less...

In Austria, only 8 percent of male workers but 45 percent of female workers are employed on a part-time basis (EU 27: 10 and 33 percent, respectively). At the same time, Austria has one of the highest gender pay gaps in the EU 27. Using EU-SILC data for the private sector in Austria, we...

Income from work is subject to a high tax burden, which at the lower end is mostly the result of high social insurance contributions. Alleviating this burden by reducing contributions to social insurance for low-income employees would increase the monthly net income by 5.2 percent for 90 percent...

The improving economic environment in the European Union also has a positive impact on Austria. In the forecasting period of 1999 to 2004, its real GDP is expected to grow by 2.5 percent p.a. on average, slightly less than the European average. According to the international scenario for...

On April 9, the European Central Bank reduced interest rates by half a percentage point; this was the first interest rate cut since the launch of the euro. Several model simulations were carried out for the euro area and for Austria, under the assumption that short-term interest rates will...

The year-2000 tax reform – together with the package of family-related measures – will result in medium-term income gains for private households and enterprises of ATS 32.5 billion. ATS 17 billion are accounted for by wage and income tax reductions due to the reform of the income-tax rates,...

A stronger international competitive position and brisk domestic demand will have a positive impact on the Austrian economy in the next years. Assuming that the international financial crisis will be temporary in its detrimental effect and that the public budget consolidation policy will...

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...