News & Opinions

Spring forecast: Eastern Europe weathering the Iran shock for now - 29 Apr 2026

A protracted war in the Middle East would lead to a sharp decline in growth; ‘extended workbench’ model no longer CEE’s growth engine; gloomy outlook for Ukraine; Russia in stagnation, despite windfall profits from Iran war; Hungary’s recovery will take time read more

Osteuropa wichtigste Stütze für Österreichs Exportwachstum - 29 Apr 2026

Obwohl der Iran-Krieg die Wachstumsaussichten Mittel-, Ost- und Südosteuropas dämpft, kann Österreich weiterhin optimistisch auf die dortige Wirtschaftsentwicklung blicken read more

New study: EU tobacco tax reform could boost revenues and cut smoking - 20 Apr 2026

Our new study on EU tobacco tax reform was presented at the European Parliament, highlighting its potential to increase fiscal revenues and improve public health read more

wiiw is hiring a Pre-Doc Economist specialised in Macroeconomics - 01 Apr 2026

The candidate should have a Master’s degree, skills in econometrics and a pronounced interest in empirical research. read more

New Study: Same job, different skills – why migrants fall behind at work - 13 Mar 2026

Migrants in Europe perform fewer complex tasks than native workers in the same jobs due to cognitive skill gaps rather than discriminatory task allocation. Language training and skill development are key read more

New study: Regime change in Iran could boost EU economy - 02 Mar 2026

GDP gains of up to 0.7% for the EU; Austria would benefit particularly; dampening effects on inflation; Iran could reach the economic level of Turkey or South Korea in the medium term read more

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally changed Central, East and Southeast Europe - 24 Feb 2026

The war has ended the region’s three-decade growth model and replaced it with one defined by security and capital intensity read more

Reorientation of Ukraine’s economy towards the EU - 24 Feb 2026

EU now Ukraine’s most important trading partner; high dependence on China for drones; critical raw materials, defence and renewables are opportunities for Europe; robust agriculture, greater role for the government read more

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

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

Recent Publications

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Growth model adapting under pressure

wiiw Forecast Reports read more

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Monthly Report No. 04/2026

wiiw Monthly Reports read more

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The illiberal economy: The long-term development of the Hungarian economy under Viktor Orbán

wiiw Policy Notes and Reports read more

Projects in Focus

How to dovetail Ukraine’s reconstruction with EU integration and accession

Client: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Duration: January 2023 - December 2023 read more

Nearshoring and decarbonisation in the Western Balkans

Client: DIHK - Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag
Duration: January 2024 - September 2024 read more

Welfare systems and labour market policies for economic and social resilience in Europe (WeLaR)

Client: European Commission, Horizon Europe
Duration: September 2022 - August 2025 read more

Distributional income and employment effects of fiscal policy: Micro-level evidence for Austria (DIEFISCAL)

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

Production and analysis of Cedefop’s new European Skills Forecast (Specific Contract No.1)

Client: CEDEFOP
Duration: October 2024 - October 2025 read more

Fiscal policies in Europe V

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

Demographic and economic development in Central and East European countries (CEECs)

Client: City of Vienna
Duration: September 2021 - June 2022 read more

Jobs, mental health and social policy in times of COVID-19

Client: FWF - Austrian Science Fund
Duration: November 2021 - October 2023 read more

Tax and Contribution Burdens in Firms with Different Value Creation Structures

Client: AK Lower Austria
Duration: December 2024 - June 2025 read more

Untangling the impacts of technological transformations, globalisation and demographic change to foster shared prosperity in Europe (UNTANGLED)

Client: European Commission, Horizon 2020
Duration: February 2021 - January 2024 read more

Labour market effects of Austrian foreign trade

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy
Duration: November 2023 - September 2024 read more

Zurück nach Österreich? Potenziale von Rückverlagerungen als Teil moderner Resilienz- und Standortstrategien

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Duration: November 2025 - September 2026 read more

Differences in real non-residential investment between the United States and EU countries

Client: European Investment Bank (EIB)
Duration: May 2023 - June 2024 read more

Genetic innovation, intermediate goods and energy prices in an agent-based model

Client: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Duration: March 2023 - August 2026 read more

Fiscal consolidation, public investment and labour markets

Client: European Macro Policy Network (EMPN)
Duration: January 2026 - December 2027 read more


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