News & Opinions

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

wiiw is hiring an Economist specialised in Industrial policy/Innovation/Structural change - 18 May 2026

The candidate should have a Master’s degree in economics and a pronounced interest in empirical and policy-relevant research 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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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

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Fiscal consolidation and political instability

wiiw Working Papers read more

Upcoming Events

28  May 2026    4:30 pm CEST

In cooperation with City of Vienna.

Spring Seminar 2026: Urban Human Capital Nexus: Navigating Ageing, Culture, Markets, and Integration

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09  June 2026    5:45 pm CEST

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

Mathieu Parenti (Paris School of Economics & INRAE) presents his research (joint with G. Zucman) in the Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) series

An Economic Analysis of Extraterritorial Taxation

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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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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

Modeling the Effects of Geopolitical Tensions on Trade and Global Value Chains

Client: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Duration: October 2024 - December 2025 read more

Demographics of the Austrian foreign trade structure

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy
Duration: October 2022 - April 2023 read more

The spatial impact of EU policies

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

Toward innovation-driven growth: innovation systems and policies in EU member states of Central Eastern Europe

Client: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Duration: September 2023 - March 2024 read more

Demografie des österreichischen Außenhandels - eine Vertiefung

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Duration: December 2024 - September 2025 read more

Automotive sector in Europe, particularly in CESEE

Client: Oesterreichische Nationalbank/Austrian Ministry of Finance
Duration: April 2021 - October 2021 read more

Identifying Bottlenecks and Choke Points in Global Value Chains

Client: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Duration: October 2024 - December 2025 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

EU Recovery Watch

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

EU-Asia relations: technological competition and trade policies in an era of regionalisation

Client: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Duration: June 2023 - October 2026 read more


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