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

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

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

The use of Cohesion Policy funds to support refugees from Ukraine

Client: European Parliament
Duration: December 2022 - May 2023 read more

Interreg Transnational Programmes: needs and opportunities for the future cooperation (TNCOOP)

Client: European Observation Network, Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON)
Duration: April 2025 - April 2026 read more

Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy Programmes 2014-2020: Crisis response

Client: European Commission, DG Regional Policy
Duration: November 2023 - December 2024 read more

Economic and Social Impacts of FDI in CSEE

Client: Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.
Duration: January 2022 - November 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

Expertise on intra-EU mobility, free movement of workers and social security coordination – Support on statistics and socio-economic analysis

Client: European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Duration: December 2025 - November 2029 read more

Employment and Labour Market Scenarios

Client: European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
Duration: July 2024 - August 2024 read more

The spatial impact of EU policies

Client: European Commission, DG Regional Policy
Duration: October 2023 - January 2025 read more

The impacts of recent inflation development on the EU finances

Client: European Parliament
Duration: July 2023 - November 2023 read more

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

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

Impact Evaluation of the Interreg Rhin Supérieur / Oberrhein Programme

Client: Interreg Rhin Supérieur
Duration: September 2021 - December 2022 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

Research Centre International Economics (Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft, FIW)

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
Duration: October 2013 - February 2025 read more


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