Fifth Report on the International Competitiveness of Vienna

The aim of this study is to prepare internationally harmonised data for Vienna and the total of 289 metropolitan regions in Europe in functional delineation and to analyse them comparatively regarding the territorial competitiveness of Vienna in the European metropolitan system. The focus is on (success) indicators and determinants of the efficiency of the production system, the ability to integrate the population into working life, and the socio-ecological sustainability of development, with the 58 "first-ranking" metropolitan regions in Europe as competitor regions "similar" to Vienna forming the central benchmark in the comparisons. Based on the results, the strengths and weaknesses of Vienna in the European metropolitan competition are worked out, and potentially profitable directions for Vienna's urban economic and location policy are identified. The results show Vienna as a metropolitan region with an intact economic competitive position and good regional incomes. However, rapid demographic urban growth in the last decade, even in comparison to other metropolises, and only moderate economic dynamics have left clear traces. The challenges that have come to light in terms of efficiency position, labour market integration and social sustainability will require an explicitly growth-oriented, inclusive and ecologically sustainable economic and location policy for the Vienna Metropolitan Region. According to our results, it can build on intact foundations in innovation, structural orientation, human resources and quality of life.