New data shows:

“We have become a part-time nation”

(Bild: krone.tv)

In an interview on krone.tv, economist Jan Kluge from Agenda Austria says the following in response to the question of how the population in this country can regain more income and disposable income: "We are not doing well in terms of labor taxation compared to other countries." And this in a country where there is already high inflation.

 In addition, the willingness to work long hours is decreasing more and more: "We have become a part-time nation. Full-time jobs remain constant, but part-time jobs are on the increase." However, this is not only for reasons of raising children: childless women and men are also increasingly working part-time.

Jan Kluge from Agenda Austria

(Bild: krone.tv)

How do you get "System Austria" going? 
And how can the "Austrian system" in general be brought back on track? According to Kluge, it is right to lower the starting tax rate, as Karl Nehammer announced in his speech on Austria, but he adds: "This will make part-time work even more attractive. However, nothing will be lowered in the middle tax brackets. Only that would favor full-time work."

The Agenda Austria economist sees two areas as major tasks for the future, which were not mentioned at all in Nehammer's speech on Austria: Broad-based pension reform and federalism reform. Pension reform in particular would be essential: "There are essentially three options: Work longer until retirement, pay out less pension or increase contribution rates." However, this is a hot potato and will probably not be tackled by the current government.