The toll to be imposed on heavy-goods vehicles will drive up the cost of using motorways with the distance driven. As a consequence, it will provide an incentive to improve the utilisation of cargo space. Transports for hire or reward are better positioned to exploit streamlining options than...

According to results from the latest WIFO business survey, which is carried out in cooperation with the EU and samples some 2,700 firms in the manufacturing and construction industries as well as public utilities, capital formation promises to be strong in 1997. The WIFO business cycle forecast...

Oil market speculation, the market power of OPEC, and the reaction patterns of non-OPEC suppliers can be identified as the essential factors affecting the development of oil prices. Acting in the manner of a monopolist, OPEC is trying to implement a revenue-maximising strategy, with due...

Cross-border purchases are an essential feature of market economies, the magnitude of which depends on economic (e.g., price differentials), administrative (such as import quotas) and a variety of other factors (such as geographical constellations). Within the EU the largest cross-border flows...

In its recent investment survey WIFO asked approximately 2,500 firms of the manufacturing sector, the construction sector and the energy sector for their planned and realized investment expenditures, their sales and their business expectations. For 1997 firms report an increase in investment by...