Evaluation of the Economic Impacts of the European Rural Development Program in Austria

Abstract

The results of an ongoing evaluation process of EU subsidies of the European Rural Development Programme 2014-20 are presented (2nd intermediary report). By means of personal interviews of subsidised companies in the Austrian food and beverage sector, the impact of subsidies on profitability, competitiveness, and related variables are approximated. Data sources are, amongst others, conventional business data collected by personal face-to-face interviews, as well as financial statements of companies. The results show that subsidies in general have positive effects. In addition, two third of the sample would change their investments significantly or even refrain from investing at all without public support.