Research

As a research institute, the IHS has a long-standing tradition of delivering economic and social science research of great and lasting significance for the prosperous coexistence of society in Austria and beyond. With its expertise, the institute contributes to maintaining and enhancing economic welfare, improving the efficiency of public services, and strengthening the democratic legitimacy of socio-political decision-making.

The IHS is well known for its regular research outputs, including the quarterly Economic Forecast, the European Social Survey, the National Education Report, and the annual Student Social Survey. The institute’s research strategy is oriented toward addressing the major social challenges of today and the future.

The institute’s disciplinary and thematic scope, together with its methodological expertise—for example, in causal effect identification, methodological triangulation, big data analysis, policy and program evaluation, and experimental methods in the social sciences—create ideal conditions for accomplishing its mission.