Competitiveness Report of the European Commission

Since 1998 WIFO coordinates studies commissioned by the European Commission analysing the competitiveness of the European Union and its member countries in the context of a major framework contract. The Directorate General for Growth (previously DG Enterprise and Industry) of the European Commission has published an annual European Competitiveness Report between 1998 and 2014. In 2015 this publication has been discontinued and from 2015 onwards has been replaced by the European Internal Market and Competitiveness Report reflecting the merger of the Directorate General for the Internal Market and the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry. In the context of this framework contract WIFO and its partner institutes have produced background studies for these EC publications which have been and will be the major tangible output of this project.

The results of these studies next to the European Internal Market and Competitiveness Report form also other landmark publications of the European Commission such as the EU Industrial Structure Report or the Member State Competitiveness Report. They also provide crucial intelligence to the Council and the wider public about the state of competitiveness of industries in the EU economy. In addition, the findings are used to measure progress towards the Europe 2020 Strategy and the effects of structural reforms in EU member countries.

The research is carried out by a WIFO- led consortium of 20 specialised research institutes from 14 European countries. The current framework contract is in force for the years 2015 till 2018.

Published up to now

Studies on structural reforms in the EU member countries 2013-2018

Single Market and Competitiveness Report 2017/2018
Single Market and Competitiveness Report 2016/2017

Partners

AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology https://www.ait.ac.at/
BSI – The British Standards Institution https://www.bsigroup.com/de-AT/
CIREM – Center for International Research and Economic Modelling http://www.cepii.fr/cirem/en/presentation/cirem.htm
EBN – European Business and Innovation Center Network https://ebn.eu/
ECORYS – http://www.ecorys.com/
ESRI – Economic and Social Research Institute http://www.esri.ie/
KOF – Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich https://www.kof.ethz.ch/
ETLA – Research Institute of the Finnish Economy https://www.etla.fi/en/
FEEM – Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei https://www.feem.it/en/
IDEA – Idea Consult http://www.ideaconsult.be/
ifW – Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft https://www.ifw-kiel.de/
ivie – Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Economicas http://www.ivie.es/es_ES/
IWE – Institute of World Economics http://www.krtk.mta.hu/english/, http://www.vki.hu/eindex.shtml?setlang=english
NIESR – National Institute of Economic and Social Research https://www.niesr.ac.uk/
SPI – Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação http://www.spi.pt/
CWS – Center für Wirtschaftspolitische Studien https://www.cws.uni-hannover.de/center.html
SGH – World Economy Research Institute https://ssl-kolegia.sgh.waw.pl/en/KGS/structure/IGS-KGS/Pages/default.aspx
VTT – Technical Research Center of Finland http://www.vttresearch.com/
wiiw – Wiener Institut für internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche https://wiiw.ac.at/
ZEW – Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung http://www.zew.de/
 

Details

WIFO, AIT, wiiw, IDEA Consult
EU Wholesale Trade: Analysis of the Sector and Value Chains
Commissioned by: European Commission
Study by: Austrian Institute of Economic Research – Austrian Institute of Technology – The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies – IDEA Consult
This report investigates wholesale as one of the main service industries in the European economy. Wholesale is the resale of new and used goods to retailers, industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users, or to other wholesalers on their own account or for third parties. It plays a pivotal role in the European Single Market by bridging national markets and connecting producers, retail trade and industrial demand across Europe. Wholesale employs about 10 million persons in the EU 28 and accounts for a share of 7 to 9 percent in total employment in most EU countries. The share of micro and small enterprises is considerably higher than in manufacturing. The sector reveals considerable heterogeneity in terms of firm size, productivity and profitability across EU countries and wholesale sub-sectors. Moreover, the report sheds light on the integration of the wholesale sector in value chains with upstream manufacturers and downstream retailers, and on the role of technology and innovation in wholesale.
Keywords:TP_Europa_Wettbewerb
Research group:Industrial, Innovation and International Economics
Language:English

Related issues

Completed research studies
Commissioned by: European Commission
Study by: Austrian Institute of Economic Research – Austrian Institute of Technology – IDEA Consult – The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies
Closed: 2016
The study will examine the European wholesale trade industry from a number of different perspectives. A first objective of the study is to gain an overview of the size and economic significance of wholesale trade in the EU. A second aim is to understand wholesale trade as an economic function, linking various sectors and countries in global value chains. Third we will go deeper into one wholesale sector with a case study ("wholesale of mining, construction and civil engineering machinery").
Contact

Assoc. Prof. Michael Peneder

Research groups: Industrial, Innovation and International Economics