News & Opinions

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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How firms respond to minimum wage increases: Evidence from North Macedonia

wiiw Working Papers read more

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Struktur und Dynamik von Firmen und Produkten im österreichischen Außenhandel

wiiw Research Reports in German Language read more

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Monthly Report No. 02/2026

wiiw Monthly Reports read more

Projects in Focus

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

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

Fiscal rules and fiscal councils in the Western Balkans

Client: The World Bank
Duration: August 2023 - October 2024 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

Revision and Update of the Study "Danube Region Monitor – People and Skills" and the Online Database

Client: Federal Minister of Labour and Economy & Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD)
Duration: March 2025 - November 2028 read more

EU interconnectivity with its neighbouring regions

Client: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Duration: November 2021 - February 2023 read more

What are the economic and institutional must haves for candidate countries to make an accelerated enlargement possible?

Client: European Commission, DG Economic and Financial Affairs
Duration: October 2024 - June 2025 read more

Public finances and climate change

Client: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Duration: October 2025 - September 2027 read more

Economic Strategies for a thriving Danube Region – Policy Note

Client: Austrian Economic Chamber
Duration: April 2024 - November 2024 read more

Danube Region Monitor – People and Skills

Client: Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) and L&R Sozialforschung
Duration: April 2021 - November 2022 read more

Challenges for Cohesion: Looking ahead to 2035

Client: European Commission, DG Regional Policy
Duration: September 2022 - April 2024 read more


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