Energy prices, Competitiveness, and Austria’s exports

In 2021 and particularly in 2022, gas prices rose sharply in Europe due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the previous throttling of Russian gas supply to Western Europe. Because of the merit-order system, this also led to an increase in electricity prices in Austria and in many other EU countries. Since Russian pipeline gas must be replaced by more expensive liquefied natural gas and by more volatile electricity from renewables, energy prices in Europe will also in the future remain higher than before 2021 and higher than in other regions, particularly in the US and in Asia. In Austria companies and households are also confronted with rising fees for the gas and the electricity grids. The higher energy costs undermine Austria’s international competitiveness. Simulations with a panel econometric model in this Policy Brief underline that exports of the Austrian manufacturing industries are negatively affected by higher energy prices. Economic policy should support structural change towards new industries. Permanent subsidies are, however, not an economically sustainable option.