Agenda Austria analyzed the plans of the parliamentary parties in the field of economy. Conclusion: Some of the right ideas, but concrete concepts and sometimes even the basis for growth and enlightenment are missing.
Austerity package – a scary word that only NEOS boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger actually said during the election campaign. In doing so, she followed all the well-known economists. Austria must cut back – too much has been thrown away in recent years, ‘at any price’.
All parties want economic growth
All other parties also want economic growth. Agenda Austria has analyzed the programs in this regard. And comes to sobering conclusions. Economist Jan Kluge: “The topic has not really been on the radar lately. Austria has had worse economic growth per capita than any other EU country over the past five years.”
The forecasts are bleak
The ÖVP has the right ideas in its election manifesto, says Kluge. Enlightenment, reduction of additional wage costs and corporate tax. But the prioritization of the latter, as the ÖVP has always shown, is not the right one. “Above all, we must reduce taxes on labor. In addition, there is too much focus on economic growth, which is not in sight.” They no longer want the tax rate to be below 40 percent, but around 40 percent. And: In general, there is a question of credibility with the ÖVP, because it has not tackled many issues over the past 37 years.
FPÖ leans on ÖVP
The economist analyses that the NEOS set similar priorities such as reducing indirect labour costs. However, it is a very short programme with many headlines, without concrete suggestions. The FPÖ in turn apparently followed the ÖVP in its economic plans. On the one hand, however, the Blues wanted to be economically liberal, but on the other hand they also wanted to intervene in prices and interest rates in various areas.
“They also prefer to practice economic patriotism, which we call protectionism. And they reject a capital markets union, which would be so important. People are also defensive when it comes to digitalization. Conclusion: A program that does not really fit together.”
The SPÖ and the Greens have little growth in their programs
The SPÖ? It is not surprising that this is about redistribution. The only point where growth is important is climate change, says Kluge. But something concrete is missing. “And providing 20 billion for transformation means 20 billion that you do not have. And if you say that the ÖBAG dividends should be used, then you have to say that they are already being used for other things.”
The SPÖ has little in its program for aid and growth. The same goes for the Greens: they are not interested in GDP, which is used to measure growth. “For the Greens, economic growth and climate protection do not go together. From the Greens’ perspective, that makes sense, but not for growth.” “And much more bureaucracy and that we exceed the climate targets. The entrepreneurs in Austria will thank you very much.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
