Industrial, Innovation and International Economics

The empirical analyses of the Research Group are based on sound knowledge and applications of modern industrial economics, innovation, foreign trade and growth theory. The strength of the Research Group lies in the combination of methods and findings from industrial economics, innovation research and foreign trade analysis.

The Research Group examines the determinants of economic development along the dimensions of start-up, survival, innovation, financing, growth and productivity of firms. Furthermore, the Research Group analyses the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation and regulatory systems as well as the effects of technological developments and digitalisation. In the area of international economics, the focus is on the effects of globalisation, specialisation patterns in foreign trade, supply linkages and corporate decisions in light of geo-economic upheavals in the global economy as well as the digital and green transformation.

The Research Group contributes to WIFO's economic forecasts. Within the framework of the quarterly WIFO Economic Outlook, individual forecasts are prepared for foreign trade, investment, manufacturing and economic services. The scientific management of the WIFO-Konjunkturtest (business cycle survey) is also located in the Research Group.