"Established in 1973 as an independent research institute, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) is a non-profit organization. The primary emphasis of wiiw research activities is on:

• Analysing and forecasting economic developments in the countries of Central, East and Southeast Europe (including Turkey) as well as economic developments in China
• Analysing structural developments in those countries, such as sectoral patterns of growth, labour market trends and industrial competitiveness, supplemented by industrial branch studies; reviews of foreign direct investment and assessments of foreign trade specialization
• Conducting studies on the integration of the new EU Members, focusing on such challenges as catching up, sustained growth and macroeconomic stability, integration into the major macroeconomic policy frameworks of the EU, the Growth and Stability Pact, EMU membership, and into the structural and microeconomic policy frameworks, such as EU competition policy, regional policy, CAP and the EU's research and human capital agenda
• Undertaking research into the reconstruction and stabilization in Southeast Europe, providing policy advice, supplying technical assistance and coordinating research networks, particularly within the framework of the Global Development Network Southeast Europe
• Performing comparative analyses of global developments such as growth and patterns of structural change in Asia and the countries of Central, East and Southeast Europe, the role of foreign investment, patterns of trade specialization and production networking, exchange rate arrangements and coordination of macroeconomic policy
•  
• Research results are issued in one of the Institute's series of regular publications or jointly with international publishers. Topical analyses and forecasts are also disseminated at press conferences or in the form of press releases. They can also be accessed via the Institute's website (www.wiiw.ac.at).

The Institute has established a number of databases providing exhaustive statistical data on the countries of Central, East and Southeast Europe. The data are readily available to the general public in a variety of forms (online, CD-ROM or hard copy).

For companies and institutions interested in the markets of Central, East and Southeast Europe, the Institute offers a special subscription package of exclusive services (see Membership)."

Source: WIIW Homepage, as accessed in April 2014.

wiiw Balkan Observatory Homepage: www.balkan-observatory.net