New role for Austria’s chief economist. Thirty bright minds, including Gabriel Felbermayr, founded the non-partisan initiative ‘More Grips’. In an interview with Conny Bischofberger, the Wifo boss explains how they want to sustainably change Austrian politics.
He enters Café Landtmann on Saturday morning at 8:59 am. A minute later, Felbermayr is already sitting at our table without a coat and orders green tea. White shirt, dark blue jacket – a career gamble would probably result in a politician.
The Wifo boss was still in Berlin on Thursday and Friday, where he is a member of the think tank that advises the German government. “In Austria we do not have such independent expert advice,” he says. A kind of expert council has now been set up with the flirtatious name ‘More Grips’. And that brings us straight to the topic.
“Kron”: Mr Felbermayr, perhaps you have too much time because, as head of the Austrian Economic Research Institute, you can also rack your brains for a private initiative?
Gabriel Felbermayr: Exactly the opposite is the case. I have a time-consuming job, I have a family that I would like to spend more time with. And the 29 others in ‘More Brains’ feel the same way. Whether you run an NGO or a large industrial company, time is our scarcest resource. What’s so fascinating about this initiative: people who don’t really have time, take the time because they care about the country and our future. You start to worry and think about it.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
