Regional Accounts (RA)

Regional Accounts provide data for economic comparisons between Austrian regions and other regions of the EU. The data is used in particular for the definition of Austrian eligible zones for EU regional actions and the allocation of financial resources of the community (objective regions for structural funds).

The calculations correspond to the concepts and methodology specified in the European System of National Accounts (ESA 2010). According to its data transmission programme, volume growth rates of gross value added based on previous year’s prices have to be submitted for NUTS 2 regions, additionally to the figures at current prices. The data delivery is on a compulsory basis at t+24 months (e.g. at the end of the year 2020 for the reporting year 2018). RA provide the data on a voluntary basis already at t+12 months. Moreover a breakdown by industries is conducted.

The results of Regional Accounts are consistent with those of National Accounts (NA). Further details on NA can be found in the publication “Main results 1995-2019” (“Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnungen 1995-2019 Hauptergebnisse“, German only).

As of December 2020, Statistics Austria provides regional distribution accounts that only comprise transactions of households. Up to that date, the calculations included both households (S.14) and non-profit institutions serving households (S.15). In line with the national non-financial sector accounts, the regional distribution of income accounts of households are available for the years 2012 to 2019. The previous time series of regional distribution of income accounts of households (incl. non-profit institutions serving households), ranging from 2000 to 2018, can still be retrieved in our STATcube database.

The RA-data are presented for NUTS regions. NUTS is the abbreviation for the hierarchically structured, standardised territorial classification used for compiling the EU’s regional statistics. The RA’s reporting scope is principally based on the statutory supply commitments set out in the EU Council Regulation on ESA 2010 and comprises:

for NUTS 2 regions (in Austria: the Länder (federal provinces)):

Regional tables by industry (ÖNACE 2008)

  • Gross value added at basic prices (previous year’s and current prices)
  • Compensation of employees (current prices)
  • Employment (total and employees)
  • Total hours worked (total and employees)
  • Gross fixed capital formation (current prices)

Household accounts

  • Allocation of primary income account of households. Balance: primary income (current prices)
  • Secondary distribution of income account of households. Balance: disposable income (current prices)

for NUTS 3 regions (in Austria: 35 regions – groups of political districts, in part judicial districts):

Regional tables by industry (ÖNACE 2008)

  • Gross value added at basic prices (current prices)
  • Employment (total and employees)

In addition, figures on the regional GDP are also provided for NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 regions.

Explanations and notes on RA calculations

Regional GDP = gross regional product (GRP) is calculated in absolute terms and per inhabitant for NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 regions. It is the regional equivalent of the gross domestic product and is evaluated at market prices. The GRP of the Extra-Regio (parts of the economic territory not directly allocable to a region, i.e. embassies abroad) is shown separately. Alongside the gross regional product, which measures a region’s economic output, the disposal income of households provides an indicator of a region’s prosperity. Like the NA, the RA comprises in principle resident units, i.e. units which have a focal point of their economic interest in the economic area in question (in this case, the region). Aggregates by economic branches (gainful employment, compensation of employees and total hours worked) are represented according to the place of work concept. It covers all persons who have their place of work in the region in question (incl. commuters). For households, the focal point of economic interest is in one region only. It is equivalent to the region in which households have their place of residence and not the region in which they work.

Please consult our German website for further information on the Regional Accounts calculations.