Green Austria

activities. The spectrum ranges from the winegrowing
areas in Lower Austria, to the recreational
areas surrounding the Neusiedler See,
to the cultural metropolis of Vienna. In addition
to the exquisite cuisine, the high levels
of personal security are further important
foundations that determine the quality of life
in the Vienna region. These facts are wellknown
internationally: Vienna was ranked
top by quite a margin by US consultants Mercer
Human Resource Consulting in a recently
published report on the quality of life in the
largest cities in the EU. The Austrian capital
has been continuously ranked amongst the
top cities in the world in international comparisons
for years.
However, the excellent quality of life is not
the only reason that the Vienna Region is
amongst the most popular business locations
in Europe. For while the quality of life may
be an important factor for international enterprises
aiming to attract top employees to a
company by locating the business in a region
boasting an excellent quality of life, what
counts in the end are the hard facts. In this
respect, the moderate tax burden (see chart)
is responsible for creating the necessary corporate-friendly
atmosphere. Corporate income
tax rates in Austria are amongst the most
attractive in Europe.
Security and Competitiveness
Austria also represents legal security coupled
with political and economic stability,
which create the optimum framework conditions
for enterprises to flourish. The World
Competitiveness Yearbook 2006, an annual
report on the competitiveness of countries
carried out by Swiss research institute IMD,
ranks Austria an impressive sixth in this
respect. Furthermore, with regard to security
(social, personal and property), the
Vienna Region is one of the safest economic
regions in the world. A factor that is not only
gaining in importance in the selection of a
business location in a climate of global political
crises. Social security and an excellent
basis for discussion between employees and
employers, as well as a willingness to reach
agreements, are reflected in the joint lowest
strike rate worldwide (shared with Japan).
Between 1994 and 2004, only 1.3 days of strike
per 1,000 employees were recorded. Salaries
have generally only risen in tandem
with productivity, resulting in internationally
competitive unit labour costs.
The Vienna region, consisting of Vienna,
Lower Austria and Burgenland has developed
to become the gateway to the growth markets in
Central and Eastern Europe, and as such provide
an ideal business location.
Vienna Region
Corporate-friendly climate
An indication of the corporatefriendly
climate in Austria is the
moderate corporate income tax,
with internationally favourable
rates of 25 per cent.
Highest Security
Austria is ranked number 2
worldwide in terms of security of
property and persons.
Excellent Quality of Life
The quality of life in the Vienna
Region is well-known internationally,
with the city ranked highly
in international rankings.
02/2006 LOCATIONAUSTRIA 35