The head of the Economic Research Institute (WIFO), Gabriel Felbermayr, calls for a reform agenda without taboos from the next federal government. In view of the weak economy and the increasing budget deficit, this has the thankless task of restructuring the state budget.
The state needs 2.5 billion euros “relatively quickly,” said Felbermayr in the ORF “press hour” with OÖN editor Annette Gantner. The money is needed for consolidation measures, for investments in green transformation, for technological change, education and integration.
The next government will also have to take a few unpopular measures to get the country back on track for growth. The WIFO boss would start with property tax, diesel privileges and mineral oil tax (MöSt). The retirement age should only be raised slowly. In any case, a clear agenda is needed; it is not enough to increase taxes here and there.
The crises of recent years, from the coronavirus pandemic to the war in Ukraine, have cost prosperity.
When restructuring the budget, Felbermayr would also address taxes. “Nobody likes a tax increase,” he said. An increase in property tax rates could be interesting for any coalition negotiations between the ÖVP and SPÖ: “Something could be done about that.” Since the property tax is a wealth tax, one side can claim that it has achieved something here and the other can point to the fact that it has prevented a real wealth tax.
