The non-profit housing associations (GBV) are an important part of the Austrian housing sector, but their economic effects have not been sufficiently researched so far. After a conceptual positioning of GBVs between state and private-profit-oriented housing provision, this study provides a comprehensive inventory of GBV activities. Based on this, the direct economic effects of GBV housing for beneficiaries are estimated using machine-learning (random forest) and then incorporated into a macroeconomic Input-Output model (ASCANIO). Compared to a fictitious comparison scenario without GBV, the activities of the non-profit organisations result in positive GDP effects of 600 to 900 million €. The GBV have a clear dampening effect on the housing cost burden of private households.
Further press information on the study presentation with WIFO economist and study author Michael Klien, GBV Chairman Bernd
Rießland and his deputy Herwig Pernsteiner can be found here (in German).
