Subreport 5: Summary and Recommendations for Action

Within the scope of a major research project for the Austrian Länder, WIFO analysed the economic effects of demographic change on the Austrian regions. This subreport collates results and offers conclusions for economic policy. It found that the currently foreseeable changes in the dynamics and structure of the population in Austria's regions are not likely to lead to the Länder suffering any substantial economic losses. Nevertheless the course taken by economic development in the regions will be determined (i.a.) by the degree to which economic policy will be able to influence changes caused by population ageing through growth optimisation measures. The subreport therefore covers key fields for such a policy at the level of the Austrian Länder and enumerates useful measures for family policy, migration and integration policy, employment policy, location policy and transport policy.