News & Opinions

It will be important to upgrade the quality of FDI inflows to Central, East and Southeast Europe - 12 Jun 2026

As FDI inflows continue to decline, the focus is shifting from quantity to quality. Attracting investment that promotes technology transfer, skills development, innovation and integration into higher value chains will be important for sustaining long-term growth read more

From crisis spillover to energy resilience: CESEE’s hydrocarbon vulnerabilities and policy pathways - 27 May 2026

CESEE’s dependence on fossil fuel imports leaves it exposed to external shocks. Despite progress on diversification, resilience remains uneven - making energy efficiency, regional integration and supply diversification critical to strategic autonomy read more

Economist specialised in the Western Balkans wanted - 26 May 2026

Join wiiw as an Economist focused applied macroeconomic research on the Western Balkans. read more

wiiw is hiring an Economist specialised in the Visegrád economies - 26 May 2026

Apply for a research position focused on macroeconomics, policy analysis and Central Europe. read more

Energiepreisschock und Handelskonflikte bremsen Österreichs Außenwirtschaft - 20 May 2026

Österreichs Warenexporte schrumpften 2025 um 1,1%, die Importe stiegen um 4,8%, woraus sich ein Handelsbilanzdefizit von 6,6 Mrd. € ergab. Für 2026 und 2027 erwartet das FIW ein Exportwachstum von 1,5% bzw. 2,2% bei gleichzeitig hohen geopolitischen Risiken. read more

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

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

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

Recent Publications

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Ageing costs, public debt sustainability and EU fiscal rules

wiiw Working Papers read more

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Monthly Report No. 05/2026 - FDI in Central, East and Southeast Europe

wiiw Monthly Reports read more

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What drives child benefit size and design in Europe? Macroeconomic, sociocultural, and political factors

wiiw Working Papers read more

Upcoming Events

16  June 2026    5:45 pm CEST

In cooperation with CEU, FIW, Universität Wien, WIFO, WIIW and WU.

Yuan Zi (Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)) presents her research (joint with Ting Chen (HKBU), Jianan Li (Xiamen U), and Chong Pang (UPF)) in the Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) series

A Thirst for Silver: Trade Shock, Taxation, and Local Unrest in Nineteenth-Century China

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24  June 2026    3:00 pm CEST

In cooperation with Research Centre International Economics (FIW).

Join Dario Guarascio as he examines the interplay between technological capabilities, import dependency, and environmental policies in the lithium-ion battery supply chain, showing how smart policy design can overcome trade-offs and support both strategic autonomy and the net-zero transition.

Can strategic dependencies harm the acceleration towards net-zero transition? The case of the lithium-ion battery industry

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29  June 2026    2:00 pm CEST

Join us for the hybrid presentation of the final results of the Jubilee Fund project with Bernhard Schütz, and Oliver Reiter.

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

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09  July 2026    9:00 am CEST

In cooperation with University of Vienna, Research Centre International Economics (FIW), Economic and Social Research Council (UKRI) and Heinrich Graf Hardegg'sche Stiftung..

Leading researchers in International Economics cover state-of-the-art research in a two days workshop

Workshop on International Economic Networks (WIEN) 2026

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Projects in Focus

EU Recovery Watch

Client: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
Duration: April 2022 - July 2023 read more

Challenges for Cohesion: Looking ahead to 2035

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

Study on value-added exposure estimates to assess spillovers and competitiveness

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

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

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

Fiscal policies in Europe III.

Client: Austrian Chamber of Labour
Duration: January 2021 - November 2022 read more

Export diversification strategy for Venezuela

Client: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Duration: October 2023 - December 2024 read more

Short- and medium-term sectoral employment forecasts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

Client: European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
Duration: April 2021 - September 2021 read more

Towards a new EU anti-poverty strategy

Client: Committee of the Regions
Duration: March 2025 - June 2025 read more

Nearshoring and decarbonisation in the Western Balkans

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


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