News

econ
News

Interview

Declining Birth Rates
Demographic Change: Societal Collapse or Opportunity?

In a recent interview with Deutschlandfunk, Prof. Alexia Fürnkranz-Pskawetz discussed the implications of declining birth rates and demographic change.

(German only)

Jul. 26

Our Study Featured in the Media

Our recent study has attracted media attention and has been featured by several Austrian news outlets.

You can read the articles here (both available in German):

Der Standard: Was passiert, wenn Arbeitslosengeld gekürzt wird?, opens an external URL in a new window

Kurier: Weniger Arbeitslosengeld? Forscher warnen vor diesem Effekt, opens an external URL in a new window

We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to an informed public discussion through evidence-based research.

Jul. 26

Celebrating a Successful Dissertation Defense

On June 8, 2026 Viola Garstenauer, opens an external URL in a new window successfully defended her dissertation, “Essays in Fiscal Policy: On Couples, Taxation and Labor Supply”.

We are proud to have supported her throughout her academic journey.

We wish her continued success in the next stage of her career and look forward to following her future accomplishments and the impact of her work.

Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone!

Jun. 26

EAPS Award for Population Studies

Congratulations to Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz on receiving the prestigious EAPS Award for Population Studies!

This highest award of the EAPS honors groundbreaking original contributions to the study of population with far reaching implications for our discipline and our understanding of population dynamics and their consequences.

Jun. 26

What happens when unemployment benefits are cut?

A new article of our team member Nawid Siassi's research has been published on the TU Wien homepage.

An international team including Nawid Siassi shows: cutting unemployment benefits has complex consequences – and clear downsides.

Full news article available here: What happens when unemployment benefits are cut?

Apr. 26

Short-Time Work and Precautionary Savings

New Journal article online!

Short-Time Work and Precautionary Savings

by Thomas Dengler, opens an external URL in a new window, Britta Gehrke, opens an external URL in a new window and Leopold Zessner-Spitzenberg, opens an external URL in a new window

The Economic Journal https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueaf083, opens an external URL in a new window

A new milestone for our research: Leopold Zessner-Spitzenberg’s latest article has been published in The Economic Journal and selected as an Editor’s Choice contribution—an honor reserved for work of particular relevance and quality within the field.

We are pleased to see the article gain such prominent recognition!

Apr. 26

Reforming pension systems

An old and a young hand forming a heart-shape.

After three years of research, the EU project FutuRes has come to an end, providing fascinating insights into potential pension reforms for the future.

In the interview, Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz and Miguel Sánchez-Romero explain which scenarios they have modelled, what specifications can be derived from them, and what the next steps will be.

Mar. 26

Bruckmann Prize 2026 Awarded to Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz

Manuela Lenk und Aleixa Fürnkranz-Prskawetz at the Bruckmann Prize Awards 2026

This year’s prize winner of the Gerhard Bruckmann Prize is Prof. Dr. Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz!

Since 2015, the Austrian Statistical Society has awarded the Gerhart Bruckmann Prize to individuals with ties to Austria whose activities have contributed to strengthening the role and public recognition of statistics.

The entire research group warmly congratulates Alexia on receiving this award!

Mar. 26

Out of the black into the Green?

New Journal Article online!

“Out of the black into the green? Modeling the pathways for regional coal transitions”, opens an external URL in a new window

by Dieter Grass, Michael Kuhn, Omkar Patange, Alexia Prskawetz, Stefan Wrzaczek

European Journal of Operational Research

Jan. 26

Miguel Sánchez-Romero awarded OeNB Anniversary Fund

Miguel Sánchez-Romero, opens an external URL in a new window received a grant from the Anniversary fund of the Austrian National Bank for his project on

"Sustainable Pensions and Housing Markets: Ensuring Fairness and Sustainability in Ageing Societies".

Congratulations!

Dec. 25

“Evaluierung von Maßnahmen zur Förderung des Kunststoffrecyclings mittels eines wirtschaftsmathematischen Modells”

New Journal Article online!

(German only)

“Evaluierung von Maßnahmen zur Förderung des Kunststoffrecyclings mittels eines wirtschaftsmathematischen Modells”

- Evaluation of measures to promote plastics recycling using an economic mathematical model

by Stefani Rivić BSc, Michael Freiberger, Oliver Cencic, Christoph Scharff, Alexia Prskawetz & Helmut Rechberger

Dec. 25

Podcast episode: "Wie fair ist unser Pensionssystem wirklich?"

Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz was invited to a VBV-Group podcast episode on “How fair is our pension system really?”

Listen to the full episode here:

“Wie fair ist unser Pensionssystem wirklich?”, opens an external URL in a new window

(German only)

Nov. 25

NOeG Dissertation Fellowship

Congratulatios to David Zettler on receiving the Dissertation Fellowship of the Austrian Economic Association, opens an external URL in a new window

for his outstanding doctoral research on

"Age-Structured Mean Field Games in Macroeconomics: A Computational Approach Beyond Overlapping Generations" !

NOeG Fellowships, opens an external URL in a new window

Nov. 25

Population inequality matters

New Journal Article online!

Population inequality matters

by Michaela Kreyenfeld , Vanessa Gabrielle di Lego, Inaki Permanye , Michaela Potancoková and Miguel Sanchez Romero

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2025

https://doi.org/10.1553/p-5eef-bmjp^, opens an external URL in a new window

Oct. 25

Short-Time Work and Precautionary Savings

Screenshot of the article on the webiste

New Journal Article online!

Short-Time Work and Precautionary Savings by

Thomas Dengler, Britta Gehrke, Leopold Zessner-Spitzenberg

The Economic Journal, ueaf083, https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueaf083, opens an external URL in a new window

Oct. 25

Final Workshop / Presentation of OeNB-funded projects

Final presentation of two projects with related talks and poster sessions.

Final presentations of the projects

“Should central banks modify their inflation targeting framework when agents are boundedly rational?, opens an external URL in a new window”

Emanuel Gasteiger

and

“On the optimal design of tax-transfer policies for low-income households, opens an external URL in a new window”

Nawid Siassi

both funded by the Anniversary fund (Jubiläumsfonds) of the Austrian National Bank.

Apr. 25

Position Filled: Student Assistant in Research and Administration

The Research Unit Economics is looking for a Student Assistent in Reseach and Administration, starting in March 2025.

Application via TU Wien's job platform: https://jobs.tuwien.ac.at/Job/247602, opens an external URL in a new window

This position is already filled!

Feb. 25

New Working Paper online

A new working paper on "Short-Time Work and Precautionary Savings" by Leopold Zessner-Spitzenberg is now available!

Dec.24

Internationaler Tag der Frauen in der Mathematik

Spannende Einblicke in die Mathematik und Antworten auf die größten Irrtümer und Missverständnisse dieser Wissenschaft.

May 24

Flora Budianto awarded OeNB Anniversary Fund

The Austrian Central Bank funds Flora Budianto', opens an external URL in a new windows research on the role of changing market structure for recent inflation dynamics and monetary policy.

Jan. 24

Women in Economics Scholarship

We are offering funding for a female student considering writing a MSc thesis
(`Diplomarbeit') in economics.

EUR 440 gross per month for a maximum of 6 months

Women in Economics (PDF), opens an external URL in a new window

Jan. 24

Schlechte Pensionsreformen können mehr schaden als nützen

A report about one of our recent papers has been published by TU Wien and OeAW:

Schlechte Pensionsreformen können mehr schaden als nützen | TU Wien

Schlechte Pensionsreformen können mehr schaden als nützen (oeaw.ac.at), opens an external URL in a new window

(German only)

Nov. 23

New Group Member

On November 15, 2023, Dr. Leopold Zessner-Spitzenberg, opens an external URL in a new window joined the Economics group. Welcome!

Nov. 23

Study uncovers reasons behind homeownership and co-residence decisions

A recent study has received some coverage in the media.

https://www.welt.de/finanzen/immobilien/plus247369000/Deutschlands-grosser-Eigentums-Irrtum-gravierender-Messfehler.html, opens an external URL in a new window

Sept. 23

Leading academics discuss key economic issues at TU Wien

Annual conference on `Expectations in Dynamic Macroeconomic Models

From August 30th till September 1st, 2023, TU Wien's Economics Research Unit hosted an edition of the conference on Expectations in Dynamic Macroeconomic Models, opens an external URL in a new window.

More information: https://macroexpectations.com, opens an external URL in a new window

Sept.23

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