Senior Scientist

Economic Geography | Quantitative methods of spatial analysis | European cohesion policy 

Hans Kramar has a degree in Spatial Planning and a PhD in Regional Science and is currently working as a Senior Scientist at the centre of Urban und Regional Studies. The theoretical base of his scientific work lies in the field of Regional Science and Economic Geography, in his empirical studies he used a broad spectrum of quantitative methods of spatial analysis. His research and teaching addresses current issues of urban and regional development and various topics of spatial mobility with a focus on European cohesion policy.

Winner of the Rudolf-Wurzer-Prize for Spatial Planning (2006)

Business Card | List of publications

  • Chair of the curriculum committee for Spatial Planning (since 2016)
  • Cohesion Policy of the EU
  • Introduction Week
  • Introduction to Regional Science
  • Methods of Regional Analysis
  • Introduction Quantitative Methods in Spatial Research and Planning
  • Spatial and economic development in rural and remote regions
  • Supervision of Maser Theses

Selection of research projects:

  • Fit4Klim - Getting fit for the climate through education. A training network for climate-neutral and climate-resilient cities.
  • In-depth analysis of migration flows in the Eastern Region of Austria (2019-2020): Research project financed by Austrian Planning Association East (PGO)
  • PLAISIR - Planning Innovation: Learning from socially innovative energy projects Energieprojekten (2017-2019): Research project financed under the FFG-programme "Stadt der Zukunft"
  • Population equivalents for assessing the demand of pharmacy locations (2016-2019): Scientific study financed by the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists
  • ACTIV8! - efficient promotion of active mobility (2015-2019): Research project financed under the FFG-programme "Mobilität der Zukunft"
  • PLEEC -Planning for Energy Efficient Cities (2013-2016): Research project financed under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the EU
  • Smart City Profiles (2012-13): Research project financed under the fit4set-programme of the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN)
  • GesMo: Gender-oriented evaluation of spatial mobility levels: Research project financed under the FEMTech-FTI-programme of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology
  • POLYCE - Metropolisation and Polycentric Development in Central Europe (2010-12): Targeted Research under Priority 2 of the ESPON 2013 Programme
  • mobility2know: The role of social milieus for individual mobility behaviour (2010-2011): Research project financed under the ways2go-programme of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology
  • Smart Cities - A ranking of European medium-sized cities (seit 2007): financed by various cities and institutions

Selection of publications:

  • Giffinger, R., Kramar, H. (2021) Benchmarking, profiling, and ranking of cities: The "European smart cities" approach. In: S. Albert, M. Pandey (ed.) Performance Metrics for Sustainable Cities. Routledge: New York, S. 35 - 52.
  • Hackl, R., Raffler, C., Friesenecker, M., Kramar, H., Kalasek, R., Soteropoulos, A., Wolf-Eberl, S., Posch, P., Tomschy, R. (2019) Promoting active mobility: Evidence-based decision-making using statistical models. In: Journal of Transport Geography. Volume 80/2019.
  • Mitterer, K., Bröthaler, J., Getzner, M., Kramar, H. (2016) Zur Berücksichtigung regionaler Versorgungsfunktionen von Gemeinden in einem aufgabenorientierten Finanzausgleich Österreichs. In: Das öffentliche Haushaltswesen in Österreich (ÖHW), 4/2016, S.45-65.
  • Kramar, H. (2016) Regional convergence and economic development in the EU: the relation between national growth and regional disparities within the old and the new member states. In: International Journal of Latest Trends in Finance and Economic Sciences. Vol.6, No.1
  • Kramar, H., Kadi, J. (2013) Polycentric City Networks in Central-Eastern Europe: existing concepts and empirical findings. In: Geographica Polonica, volume 86/3, p.183-198.
  • Giffinger, R., Haindlmaier, G., Kramar, H. (2010) The role of rankings in growing city competition. In: Urban Research & Practice, vol.3, no.3, S. 299-312.
  • Kramar, H. (2009) Innovation and Space: The Concept of Regional Knowledge Production Functions. In: Markowski, T., Turla, M., Zuber, P. (ed.) Innovations and Space – European and National Approach, Studia Regionalia Vol. 23. Polish Academy of Sciences: Warsaw, p.65-80.
  • Giffinger, R., Fertner; C. Kramar, H., Meijers (2007) City ranking of European medium-sized cities, In: Tagungsband zur IFHP, Copenhagen.
  • Kramar, H. (2006) Economic Convergence on Different Spatial Levels: The Conflict between Cohesion and Growth. In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung, 1/2006, Carl Heymanns Verlag: Bonn, S.18-27.

Complete list of publications