Vorarlberg's Economy in its European Competitive Environment. Report on International Competitiveness 2022

The study offers a comprehensive review of the international competitiveness of the Vorarlberg economy in comparison with the highly developed industrial regions of Europe. For this purpose, internationally comparable indicators for Vorarlberg and its main competitor regions are prepared in a harmonised form and analysed comparatively. The benchmark is a sample of a total of 49 highly developed industrial regions in Europe (HIRE), which were identified as Vorarlberg's closer competitive environment by means of a cluster analysis of the European NUTS-2 regions. The analysis of the success indicators for competitiveness shows that Vorarlberg has now reached a top position among the industrial regions in Europe with regard to the level of economic development and the efficiency of the regional production system. At the same time, the necessity of a pointedly productivity-oriented approach to regional economic policy becomes clear in order to secure the competitive advantages achieved for the future as well. A detailed review of the central determinants of territorial competitiveness in innovation orientation, structural positioning and human resources therefore follows. Based on the strengths and weaknesses identified in Vorarlberg, lines of action in innovation, structural and qualification policy are discussed, which seem suitable for further strengthening the efficiency development of the Vorarlberg economy as a basis for its sustainable competitiveness.