Sectoral Asset Calculation for Austria

WIFO performed the first-ever in-depth calculation of wealth in Austria pursuant to the ESA 95. Of particular analytical interest is the statistical recording of assets accumulated by private households. Together with the disposable income, this factor substantially affects consumption of private households. Even though the estimates so far obtained offer only preliminary and rough ideas, the results nevertheless underline the need for a record of the assets situation that goes beyond the monetary wealth and encompasses key property categories. The calculations confirm the priority rank given to real estate assets (residential buildings, land) within the total wealth of private households: almost half of their overall wealth in 2000 was made up of residential buildings and building land, thus clearly surpassing financial assets, the second most important category of private household wealth which makes up slightly over 30 percent of the total wealth.