Waltraut Urban

Senior Research Associate

email: wiiw@wiiw.ac.at
telephone: (+43-1) 533 66 10

Waltraut Urban is senior research associate at wiiw. Currently, her research interest focuses on China in the global economy, the Chinese ‚New Silk Road Initiative’, economic relations between the EU and China, respectively between Austria and China. Ms. Urban was a researcher at wiiw from 1995-2011, dealing with the economic development of China on the one hand and industrial restructuring in the Central- and East European countries on the other. She has published many articles and given numerous lectures in that field, including lectures at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, the University of Vienna and the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. In prior positions she was an economist at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (wifo) and at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (aiia). Waltraut Urban has obtained her master’s degree in economics from the University of Vienna.

Austria, Vienna

External Publications

Articles in refereed journals
  • 'Neue Entwicklungen in den Schwellenländern', Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 19, No. 4, 1990, pp. 409-419
Books (Monographs and editorship)
  • Österreichisch-Deutsche Wirtschaftsbeziehungen. Zwischen Westintegration und Ostöffnung, Laxenburger Internationale Studien No. 8, Braunmüller, Wien, 1995
Articles in books
  • 'Visionen zur Stadt – das Beispiel China', in: Michael Häupl, Patrick Horvath, Bernhard Müller and Thomas Weninger (eds), Zukunft Stadt. Wirtschaftspolitische Visionen für die urbanen Zentren von morgen, New Academic Press, Wien, 2016, pp. 49-59
  • 'Case Study: Data on R&D Internationalisation in China', in: Bernhard Dachs, Robert Stehrer and Georg Zahradnik (eds), The Internationalisation of Business R&D, Chapter 3, E. Elgar Publ, Cheltenham & Northampton, 2014
  • 'China als wirtschaftliche Weltmacht', in: Gerd Kaminski and Barbara Kreissl (eds), China als internationaler Player in der Weltpolitik, ÖGCF, Wien, 2012, pp. 117-125
  • 'Internationalisation of business investments in R&D and analysis of their economic impact' (with Bernhard Dachs, Neil Foster-McGregor, Doris Hanzl-Weiss, Gabor Hunya, Franziska Kampik, Sandra M. Leitner, Thomas Scherngell, Robert Stehrer and Georg Zahradnik), European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation, Luxembourg, 2012
  • 'Institutionelles Umfeld des Welthandels' (with Roman Stöllinger), Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2010, Chapter 2, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Vienna, December 2010, pp. 39-53
  • 'Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen der Weltwirtschaft' (with Vasily Astrov and Roman Stöllinger), Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2010, Chapter 1, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Vienna, December 2010, pp. 17-38
  • 'Rahmenbedingungen des Welthandels' (with Vasily Astrov, Olga Pindyuk and Roman Stöllinger), Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2009, Chapter 2, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Vienna, December 2009, pp. 31-53
  • 'Neue handelspolitische Strategie der EU', Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2008, Chapter 10, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Wien, 2008, pp. 178-185
  • 'Wirtschaft', in: Herbert Eckhart, Lydia Steinmaßl and Sepp Wall-Strasser (eds), Work'n China, Handbuch für ArbeitnehmerInnen, OGB Verlag, Vienna, 2008, pp. 69-89
  • 'Arbeitsgesetzgebung in China', in: Herbert Eckhart, Lydia Steinmaßl and Sepp Wall-Strasser (eds), Work'n China, Handbuch für ArbeitnehmerInnen, OGB Verlag, Vienna, 2008, pp. 129-131
  • 'Rahmenbedingungen des Welthandels' (with Vasily Astrov, Olga Pindyuk and Roman Stöllinger), Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2008, Chapter 2, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Vienna, 2008, pp. 36-41
  • 'Rahmenbedingungen des Welthandels' (with Olga Pindyuk and Julia Wörz), Österreichs Außenwirtschaft 2007, Chapter 2, Kompetenzzentrum Forschungsschwerpunkt Internationale Wirtschaft (FIW), Vienna, 2007, pp. 36-60
  • 'The European Automotive Industry in a Global Context', in: Oliver Heneric, Georg Licht and Wolfgang Sofka (eds), Europe's Automotive Industry on the Move, ZEW Economic Studies Vol. 32, Mannheim, March 2005, pp. 5-157
  • 'Internationale wirtschaftspolitische Rahmenbedingungen (Die Europäische Union, Regionale Wirtschaftskooperation in Asien)', Österreichs Aussenwirtschaft 2003/2004, Chapter 2, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, Vienna, 2004
  • 'Lage der Weltwirtschaft 2003 und Ausblick 2004 (USA, Japan, China und andere asiatische Staaten)', Österreichs Aussenwirtschaft 2003/2004, Chapter 1, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, Vienna, 2004
  • 'The Middle Empire in the Center again - strong economic growth and enhanced regional co-operation', in: Gerd Kaminski (eds), China's Traditions: Wings or Shackles for China's Modernization?, ÖGCF, Vienna, 2003, pp. 45-52
  • 'Die Asienkrise 1997 und danach', in: Joachim Becker, Ronald Heinz, Karen Imhof and Karin Küblböck (eds), Geld, Macht, Krise, Promedia-Südwind, Vienna, 2003, pp. 173-191
  • 'Lage der Weltwirtschaft und Ausblick 2003 (USA, Japan, China und restliches Asien)', Österreichs Aussenwirtschaft 2002/2003, Chapter 1, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, Vienna, 2003, pp. 22-24, 29-31
  • 'USA, Japan, China, Asien', Austrian Foreign Trade Yearbook , Chapter 1, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour , Wien, 2001/2002
  • 'ASEAN', Austrian Foreign Trade Yearbook , Chapter 2, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour , Wien, 2001/2002
  • 'Production specialisation in central European manufacturing', in: Gabor Hunya (eds), Integration through foreign direct investment, Cheltenham/Northampton, 2000, pp. 150-177
  • 'Patterns of Structural Change in Manufacturing Industry in Central and Eastern Europe', in: D.A. Dyker and Slavo Radošević (eds), Innovation and Structural Change in Post-Socialist Countries: A Quantitative Approach, NATO ASI Series, Dordrecht, Springer, 1999, pp. 45-67
  • 'Ist China für das 21. Jahrhundert gerüstet?', in: Gerd Kaminski and Barbara Kreissl (eds), China's Perception of Peace, War and the World, Berichte des Ludwig Boltzmann Instituts für China- und Südostasienforschung, ÖGCF, Wien, 1999, pp. 119-128
  • 'Der Wandel der Branchenstruktur in den MOE-Ländern: Zeichen für eine neue Arbeitsteilung zwischen Ost- und Westeuropa?', Transformation No. 8, Leipziger Beiträge zu Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, Leipziger Universitätsverlag, Leipzig, 1998, pp. 135-157
  • 'China as an Emerging Regional Economic Power', in: Gerd Kaminski and Barbara Kreissl (eds), China's Perception of Peace, War and the World, Landesverteidigungsakademie, Wien, 1997, pp. 37-53
  • 'Kooperation in Südostasien – wirtschaftliche und politische Aspekte', in: Edith Binderhofer and Ingrid Getreuer-Kargl (eds), Das pazifische Jahrhundert? Wirtschaftliche, ökologische und politische Entwicklung in Ost- und Südostasien, Südwind, Wien, Frankfurt, 1996, pp. 163-178
  • 'Die langfristigen Wirtschaftsbeziehungen zwischen Österreich und der BRD: Auswirkungen der Europäischen Integration, der Öffnung des Ostens und der deutschen Vereinigung', Österreichisches Jahrbuch für Internationale Politik 1994, Böhlau, Wien, 1994, pp. 120-143
  • 'Recent Developments in Economic Relations Between Austria and Yugoslavia with special Focus on Joint Ventures', in: Edita Stojic (eds), Danube. The River of Cooperation (Second Conference), Belgrade, 1993, pp. 67-70
  • 'Economic Lessons from Two Newly Industrializing Countries in the Far East?', in: Sandor Richter (eds), The Transition from Command to Market Economies in East-Central Europe, Westview Special Studies in International Economics, Westview Press, Boulder, 1992, pp. 251-313
  • 'Internationalisierung, Interdependenz und globale Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der Wirtschaft', in: Otmar Höll (eds), Die neuen globalen Herausforderungen. Die UNO an der Schwelle zum nächsten Jahrhundert, Dachs Verlag, Wien, 1992, pp. 24-26
  • 'Labor Intense versus Technology Intense Production in Newly Industrializing Countries', in: Wolfgang Lutz and Ferenc L. Toth (eds), Population, Economy, and Environment in Mauritius, Chapter 12, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, 1991, pp. 191-202
  • 'Direkte Beschäftigungseffekte des Handels zwischen Österreich und den Entwicklungsländern', in: Reiner Buchegger, Kurt W. Rothschild and Gunter Tichy (eds), Arbeitslosigkeit. Ökonomische und soziologische Perspektiven, Springer, Berlin, 1990, pp. 249-252
Articles in non-refereed journals
  • 'Chinas Rolle in der Weltwirtschaft und seine Bedeutung für die Europäische Union', Wirtschaftspolitische Blätter, No. 2, 2013, pp. 367-380
  • 'Maschinen dominieren Export - für Österreichs Hersteller steht China vor Deutschland', China Contact, No. 1/2005, 2005, pp. 42-44
  • 'China as an emerging regional and global power', IFAS Forum, Research Institute for Asian Studies, No. 1-2, 2003, pp. 11-14
  • 'Exportmotor China', China Contact, No. 9, 2003, pp. 8-10
  • 'Ungenutzte Chancen: Österreich in Asien-Pazifik-Region kaum präsent', China Contact, No. 11, 2003, pp. 28-30
  • 'Regionale Unterschiede: Chancen und Gefahren für die chinesische Wirtschaftsentwicklung', China-Report, 1999, 1999, pp. 18-29
  • ''Regional Disparities and Industrial Structure in China', IFAS Forum, Research Institute for Asian Studies, No. 1, 1999, pp. 31-32
  • 'Österreich - China', Journal für Entwicklungspolitik, No. 2, 1997, pp. 208-212
  • 'Structural change in China since the beginning of economic reforms', Central European Quarterly, No. 3, 1996, pp. 64 67
Shorter papers and comments
  • 'The "New Silk Road" - opportunities for European companies?', Sberbank, February 6th 2018
  • 'Die österreichisch-chinesischen Wirtschaftsbeziehungen im Lichte der 'Neuen Normalität'', China Contact and Europe Contact, June 2016
  • 'Ökonomischer Erfolg stärkt Chinas Selbstbewußtsein', China Report. Österreichischen Gesellschaft zur Förderung freundschaftlicher und kultureller Beziehungen zur VR China, No 159-160, 2011, pp. 22-24
  • 'Österreich-China: stabile Partnerschaft in der Krise', China Report. Österreichischen Gesellschaft zur Förderung freundschaftlicher und kultureller Beziehungen zur VR China, No 159-160, 2011, pp. 25-26
  • 'China goes global', cooperativ, No. 6, 2011, pp. 54-57
  • 'China: Risken bestehen, aber der Ausblick ist positiv', cooperativ, No. 3/4, 2011, pp. 12-13
  • 'Auf der Überholspur', cooperativ, No. 5, 2011, pp. 45-56
  • 'Honeymoon over?', Bank exclusive, No. 4, 2011, pp. 26-27
  • 'Österreich-China: stabile Partnerschaft in der Krise', AustriaContact China , No. 2, 2010, pp. 54-57
  • 'Vom Billiglohnland zur innovativen Technologienation', Kompetenz, No. 9, 2008
  • 'Tiger und Elefant - China und Indien im Vergleich', industrie aktuell, No. 2, 2008
Other working papers and discussion series
  • 'EU and BRICs: Challenges and opportunities for European competitiveness and cooperation' (with Vasily Astrov, Edward Christie, Bernhard Dachs, Jayati Ghosh, Peter Havlik, Gabor Hunya, Carolina Lennon, Olga Pindyuk, Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro and Roman Stöllinger), Industrial Policy and Economic Reform Papers, No. 13, July 2009
  • 'EU and BRICs: Challenges and opportunities for European competitiveness and cooperation' (with Vasily Astrov, Edward Christie, Bernhard Dachs, Jayati Ghosh, Peter Havlik, Gabor Hunya, Carolina Lennon, Olga Pindyuk, Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro and Roman Stöllinger), European Competitiveness Report 2009, Brussels, 2009
  • 'China's foreign oil policy: genesis, deployment and selected effects' (with Joseph F. Francois and Franz Wirl), in: Edward Christie (eds), FIW Research Reports 2009/2010, No. 3, Vienna, 2009
  • 'The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Restructuring of the Metal Processing Industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina' (with Mario Holzner, Gabor Hunya and Goran Nedic), OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe, May 2007

wiiw Publications

wiiw Forecast Reports
  • 'China: Economy fast on track', Will Exports Prevail over Austerity?, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 6, Vienna, July 2010, pp. 134-141
  • 'China: On the cusp of double-digit growth', Crisis Is Over, but Problems Loom Ahead, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 5, Vienna, February 2010
  • 'China: economy showing signs of bottoming out', in: Vladimir Gligorov, Josef Pöschl and Sandor Richter (eds), Where Have All the Shooting Stars Gone?, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 4, Vienna, July 2009, pp. 125-130
  • 'China: travelling down a bumpy road', in: Vladimir Gligorov, Gabor Hunya and Josef Pöschl (eds), Differentiated Impact of the Global Crisis, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 3, Vienna, February 2009, pp. 106-110
  • 'China: how to curb inflation while sustaining growth?', in: Leon Podkaminer and Josef Pöschl (eds), The Big Boom Is Over, but Growth Remains Strong and Inflation Calms Down, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 2, Vienna, July 2008, pp. 136-140
  • 'China: global slowdown helping to curb excessive growth', in: Peter Havlik and Mario Holzner (eds), Weathering the Global Storm, yet Rising Costs and Labour Shortages May Dampen Domestic Growth, wiiw Current Analyses and Forecasts, No. 1, Vienna, February 2008, pp. 97-100
wiiw Monthly Reports
  • '‘China plus X’: how might it work?', in: Vasily Astrov (eds), Monthly Report No. 6/2023, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 6, Vienna, June 2023, 13-19
  • 'The New Silk Road: China’s Belt and Road Initiative', Monthly Report No. 10/2016, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 10, Vienna, October 2016, pp. 10-16
  • 'China's quest for oil abroad: between state and market', Monthly Report No. 3/2010, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 3, Vienna, March 2010, pp. 5-11
  • 'China's oil policy: facing the challenge of rising oil demand', Monthly Report No. 2/2010, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 2, Vienna, February 2010, pp. 1-6
  • 'The Chinese automotive industry in a global context' (with Bin Wang), Monthly Report No. 1/2009, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 1, Vienna, January 2009, pp. 1-8
  • 'What is driving the Chinese stock market?', Monthly Report No. 4/2007, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 4, Vienna, April 2007, pp. 9-15
  • 'China preparing for WTO deadline in banking', Monthly Report No. 6/2006, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 6, Vienna, June 2006, pp. 15-19
  • 'Chinese direct investment abroad: economic and political objectives', Monthly Report No. 1/2006, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 1, Vienna, January 2006, pp. 4-7
  • 'Structures and sectoral linkages in selected new and old EU member states' (with Robert Stehrer), Monthly Report No. 8-9/2005, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 8-9, Vienna, September 2005, pp. 8-12
  • 'Hungarian manufacturing - the shooting star in Central and Eastern Europe' (with Doris Hanzl-Weiss), Monthly Report 12/2002, wiiw Monthly Report, No. 12, Vienna, December 2002, pp. 1-7
  • 'Monthly Report 03/2002' (with Doris Hanzl-Weiss and Zdenek Lukas), wiiw Monthly Report, No. 3, Vienna, March 2002
wiiw Research Reports
  • 'Western Balkans: Employment in the Gas and Electricity Sectors ' (with Vasily Astrov, Edward Christie, Doris Hanzl-Weiss, Mario Holzner, Sebastian Leitner and Hermine Vidovic), wiiw Research Report, No. 370, Vienna, March 2011
  • 'Models of BRICs' Economic Development and Challenges for EU Competitiveness' (with Jayati Ghosh, Peter Havlik and Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro), wiiw Research Report, No. 359, Vienna, December 2009
  • 'China: growth picking up again', in: Vladimir Gligorov and Sandor Richter (eds), High Growth Continues, with Risks of Overheating on the Horizon, wiiw Research Report, No. 341, Vienna, July 2007, pp. 121-126
  • 'Restructuring of Energy-intensive Industrial Branches in Romania and Proposals for Industrial Policy Measures' (with Edward Christie and Gabor Hunya), wiiw Research Report, No. 339, Vienna, April 2007
  • 'China: economic growth higher than expected', in: Vladimir Gligorov and Leon Podkaminer (eds), Private Consumption and Flourishing Exports Keep the Region on High Growth Track, wiiw Research Report, No. 335, Vienna, February 2007, pp. 111-115
  • 'China: undamped growth of the economy', in: Vladimir Gligorov and Leon Podkaminer (eds), Broader-based Growth Resilient to Global Uncertainties, wiiw Research Report, No. 328, Vienna, July 2006, pp. 100-104
  • 'China: economy on a fast track', in: Vladimir Gligorov and Leon Podkaminer (eds), Strong Growth, Driven by Exports in the NMS and by Consumption in the Future EU Members, wiiw Research Report, No. 325, Vienna, February 2006, pp. 95-100
  • 'China: rapid growth, but some signs of cooling down', in: Gabor Hunya and Leon Podkaminer (eds), Back from the Peak, Growth in Transition Countries Returns to Standard Rate of Catching-up, wiiw Research Report, No. 320, Vienna, July 2005, pp. 92-97
  • 'China: maintaining stable and fast economic development', in: Vladimir Gligorov, Peter Havlik and Leon Podkaminer (eds), Accelerating GDP Growth, Improved Prospects for European Integration, wiiw Research Report, No. 314, Vienna, March 2005, pp. 107-111
  • 'China: limits to growth', in: Vladimir Gligorov, Josef Pöschl and Sandor Richter (eds), As East You Go, the More They Grow: Transition Economies in a New Setting, wiiw Research Report, No. 308, Vienna, July 2004, pp. 97-101
Other wiiw publications
  • 'Growth locomotive China', wiiw China Report, No. 2, Vienna, December 2003
  • 'Industrial Development' (with Peter Havlik), wiiw Structural Report 2003 on Central and Eastern Europe, Volume 1, wiiw Structural Report, Vol. 1, Vienna, October 2003
  • 'Booming Chinese economy overshadowed by SARS', wiiw China Report, No. 1, Vienna, August 2003
  • 'China: Fast growth maintained despite slowdown of the world economy', wiiw China Report, No. 2, Vienna, December 2002
  • 'Chinese economy drawn by domestic and external forces', wiiw China Report, No. 1, Vienna, October 2002
  • 'China: Looking back on a landmark year', wiiw China Report, No. 3, Vienna, December 2001
  • 'China: Domestic market fuels growth', wiiw China Report, No. 2, Vienna, October 2001
  • 'China to face declining external demand', wiiw China Report, No. 1, Vienna, June 2001
  • 'Chinese economy develops better than expected', wiiw China Report, No. 4, Vienna, December 2000
  • 'Reforming China's enterprises / China's economy back on track' (with Charles Pigott), wiiw China Report, No. 2-3, Vienna, October 2000
  • 'China: Active fiscal policy and rising external demand may halt decline in growth', wiiw China Report, No. 1, Vienna, March 2000

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