ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the process of change and the current situation of the Austrian regional policy system regarding the nature of traditionally and newly founded regional policy institutions, their range of tasks and the increasing differentiation of regional policy instruments together with Styrian examples. It identifies major changes in the Austrian regional policy system at the organisational level, the functional or instrumental level, and the implementation level. The chapter argues that an institution plays an independent role in the promotion of regional economic development if it is able to design and implement initiatives and support schemes autonomously. It shows that there are two general strategies of change for regional policy institutions in Austria at the regional level: the multi-institution approach and the single-institution approach. Styria has several regional policy institutions covering the whole area and all sectors of the province with their promotional services.