Pensions, subsidies – Austrians for reforms – also with themselves

Only a week ago, with the nine heads of state, the government sealed the will in writing to reform partner. So far this is nothing more than a declaration of intent. But the saving pressure, the federal government, the state and communities are exposed, is the best guarantee that there are actually reforms. Surprisingly, reforms are not unpopular among the population. The Market Institute carried out a survey with 2000 investigated on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.

72 percent of the population is for large reforms, even if cuts for the Austrians are associated with it. “The Austrians have a good sense of what the country needs and they are often one step ahead of politics,” says WKO president Harald Mahrer the results of the survey. The call for reform is one thing. There is often the mood that reforms are welcome, as long as the changes influence the others, but I do not personally.

Only ten percent against reforms
This attitude also seems to be a reconsideration: 58 percent of the Austrians are also ready to change if they personally have no benefits or maybe even disadvantages. Only ten percent speak against reforms if the cutbacks would affect them personally. In which areas do the Austrians urgently want to adapt to the adjustment? The pension system is at the top of the list.

Given that Austria is already in the third year of the recession, Mahrer demands that the government will receive reforms quickly. “They are needed to finance the welfare state. We can no longer afford to sleep in the hammock. Now it’s time to tackle instead of stopping your hand.”