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Europe at the crossroads
As a collection of nation states, the EU has fallen behind the USA and China economically. It was only when the war in Ukraine broke out that European integration started to regain faster momentum again. In any case, the next five years will be decisive for setting Europe’s future geopolitical course.
The copyright challenges of artificial intelligence
Is it allowed to use copyrighted data in the training of AI applications, and to what extent? Are AI-generated creations protected by copyright? These and similar questions show that copyright is a central concern in an AI-based economy. A commentary by Philipp Homar, WU Professor for Intellectual Property Law.
Sadistic entertainment, clan wars, and vigilante policing: Study sheds light on the dark side of online communities
Verbal abuse, insults, threats: Some online communities are notorious for their toxic atmosphere. A study co-authored by a WU researcher has documented the underlying mechanisms – and looked at why people who are peaceful in real life resort to verbal violence in the online world.
New supply chain legislation: A catalyst for sustainable development?
After some delays, on March 15, 2024, the European Council eventually passed a vote in favor of the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). This directive, intended to make supply chains more sustainable, heralds a paradigm shift.
Shifting balances of economic power
Free trade agreements and economic globalization have gone out of fashion: Sanctions, protectionism, and fears cloud the outlook for a prosperous development of international trade relations.
New emissions model reveals problems with carbon forecasts
Researchers at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) have developed a new model for forecasting greenhouse gas emissions. It shows that the global climate targets can no longer be achieved unless drastic measures are taken – and it reveals that some countries vastly overstate their carbon reduction efforts.
REMASS: Understanding our society's metabolism
The visionary REMASS project investigates the effects of crises on society's metabolism - and has been awarded funding of 7.1 million Euros by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for the next five years.
Setting limits for artificial intelligence
If AI systems make decisions solely on the basis of data and algorithms, it leads to ethically problematic outcomes
Headquarters in Austria: “A great way to enter the European market”
Chiara Fabrizi from WU’s Institute for International Business is the co-author of the first comprehensive study on headquarters in Austria. We asked her what she had learned from analyzing 1,500 Austrian headquarters – and what she would recommend to policymakers who want to attract international businesses.
Crowd wisdom: A win for women musicians
Are experts really better at judging the quality of art than the general public? According to a study by WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), this seems doubtful – at least in the field of classical music. The study shows that audiences outperform expert juries when it comes to predicting performers’ future success. Audience members are also less biased regarding musicians’ origin and gender.
Can education compensate for population decline?
Birth rates in industrialized countries are falling steadily. But the fewer children they have, the more parents invest in the education and health of their offspring – making them more valuable to the economy. Can increasing human capital compensate for falling birth rates? At least partially, as a study by WU shows.