The Austrian government plans to ask high-profile businessmen to join an advisory committee after a leading banker called politicians “stupid and coward.” Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Bank) boss Andreas Treichl’s attack kicked off an intense debate about the relationship of politicians and entrepreneurs last month. The banker – who nearly became federal finance minister […]
A works council chief has caused a stir by calling for more vacation days for Austrians.Wolfgang Katzian, head of the labour union of private employees GPA-djp, said today (Tues) Austrians deserved an additional week off each year. The Social Democratic (SPÖ) member of the federal parliament argued such a move would mean a win-win situation […]
Austria has one of the densest millionaire populations in the world, a survey has revealed.Boston Consulting Groups (BCG) Global Wealth Report 2011 shows that, with 5.2 million households, most US dollar millionaires live in the United States of America. Millionaire households represented only 0.9 per cent of all households in the world. These families owned […]
Only three per cent of Austrians say they are not at all worried about another crisis.Pollster Market said today (Thurs) just three in 100 citizens had no concerns at all about a comeback of the recession in the foreseeable future. The agency added that 50 per cent of Austrians were “rather not worried” while six […]
A fifth of Austrians plan to move within three years, a new poll reveals.Public opinion research firm Market found that 20 per cent of people are so unhappy about their current accommodation they seek a change of scenery in the coming three years. The agency said today (Weds) especially people aged 30 and older want […]
Viennas Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl has called on the federal government to show more courage in defying the aggressive campaigning of Freedom Party (FPÖ) chairman Heinz-Christian Strache.Häupl told the Kurier newspaper today (Weds): “The government has to do better and more about communicating its achievements such as the battling of the financial crisis, […]
A vast majority of Austrians are satisfied with the quality of tap water in the country.The Federal Gas and Water Association (ÖVGW) said today (Tues) its poll showed that 90 per cent are “very satisfied” or “satisfied.” Asked to rate the tap water which has drinking water quality everywhere in the country in […]
Austrias middle class will impoverish if the countrys leaders fail to make any progress in reforming its bureaucratic, healthcare and pensions system, an opposition party chief has claimed.Josef Bucher, who heads the right-wing Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), told the Die Presse newspaper today (Fri): “If we keep carrying on this way, it […]
The price of car tyres is set to soar in the near future, experts warned today (Fri).Business newspapers cite industry representatives and market analysts as saying that the rising price for rubber and other materials will fuel a jump in consumer prices. Experts claimed that the recovering economy and an increase in car sales will […]
More than one out of five residents of Vienna are foreigners, statistics have shown.Federal agency Statistik Austria said today (Fri) the capitals percentage of foreigners was 21.5 per cent while only 11 per cent of Austrias populace have other nationalities than Austrian. The authority also explained that, with more than 368,000, around 40 per cent […]