News & Opinions

New study: fiscal consolidation dampens growth and increases inequality - 18 Feb 2026

Study shows: dampening effects of fiscal consolidation are significantly stronger in a recession than in an upturn; negative impact in Austria limited so far; ensure socially balanced consolidation read more

United Europe 2031: Widen, Deepen, Survive - 17 Feb 2026

Europe must grasp the nettle and use enlargement to force deep integration – before delay turns into decline read more

Winter forecast for Eastern Europe: Solid growth despite uncertainties - 04 Feb 2026

Structural change in Central and Eastern Europe is in full swing, while Trump, budget deficits and a dictated peace in Ukraine pose risks; Ukraine faces a difficult future, whereas Russia’s economy is stagnating read more

Osteuropa ist Österreichs wichtigster Handelspartner und bringt kräftige Wachstumsimpulse - 04 Feb 2026

Zusammengenommen werden die 23 Staaten in Mittel-, Ost- und Südosteuropa 2026 den größten Beitrag zum österreichischen BIP-Wachstum unter allen Handelspartnern leisten. Damit ist die Region wichtiger als Deutschland, die USA oder China read more

New Podcast - CEE Outlook 2026: Making Decisions Amid Uncertainty - 03 Feb 2026

In the latest episode of the CEE Exchange podcast, part of wiiw’s Executive Network, Executive Director Mario Holzner and Deputy Director Richard Grieveson discuss the geopolitical and economic outlook for Central and Eastern Europe in 2026 read more

Ukrainian refugees – from emergency to long-term strategy - 23 Jan 2026

Nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe needs to replace temporary arrangements with sustainable, long-term strategies that work for both refugees and host countries read more

A dictated peace would be a disaster for Ukraine and Central Eastern Europe - 15 Jan 2026

Without credible security guarantees, Ukraine is likely to become a vassal state of Moscow and will continue to get poorer. The EU members of the region would face economic decline and protracted conflict with Russia read more

Freihandel mit der Türkei brächte Vorteile für Österreich und die EU - 26 Nov 2025

Vertiefte Zollunion zwischen EU und Türkei als Win-win-Situation; große Chancen für Österreich, vor allem bei Maschinen und Fahrzeugen; Verhandlungen als Hebel gegenüber Ankara read more

Recent Publications

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Structural shifts in Ukraine’s foreign trade and investment and implications for EU-Ukraine relations

wiiw Policy Notes and Reports read more

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Macroeconomic and distributional effects of fiscal consolidation measures in EU countries

wiiw Working Papers read more

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Structural dependencies and choke points in GVCs: An industry-level analysis

wiiw Research Reports read more

Projects in Focus

Carbon Intensive Regions in Transition – Unravelling the Challenges of Structural Change (CINTRAN)

Client: European Commission, Horizon 2020
Duration: May 2020 - April 2024 read more

Human Mobility in the Western Balkans: Pathways for Inclusive Growth and Human Development

Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Duration: February 2025 - August 2025 read more

Production and analysis of the Skills Forecast

Client: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)
Duration: July 2020 - July 2024 read more

Demografie des österreichischen Außenhandels - eine Vertiefung

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Duration: December 2024 - September 2025 read more

Couples’ transition to parenthood and labour market outcomes: Analysing gender inequalities and career interactions in Austria (CoPLAN)

Client: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Duration: July 2025 - June 2027 read more

Where are the growth potentials? The sectors that can boost convergence in CESEE

Client: Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB)
Duration: June 2023 - November 2023 read more

Analysis of the Fiscal and Health Impact of Increasing Tobacco Excise Taxes

Client: The World Bank
Duration: February 2024 - December 2024 read more

Operationalizing Trade Reforms and Strengthening Trade ClimateLinkages in ADB Operations

Client: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Duration: May 2025 - December 2025 read more

Long-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on labour market integration of refugees (FIMAS reCOV)

Client: International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
Duration: March 2023 - December 2023 read more

Fiscal policies in Europe V

Client: Austrian Chamber of Labour
Duration: December 2024 - November 2026 read more

Comparative Advantage in the Digital Era: New insights into trade in digital tasks and ICT capital

Client: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Duration: March 2021 - February 2023 read more


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