Prize winners at the Faculty of Economics & Statistics 2024
1st prize: Alexandra Egger; WRG Ursulinen Innsbruck. Supervision: Matthias Köck.
Title: The unconditional basic income as a socio-economic concept
In her pre-scientific work, Alexandra Egger explores the question of whether an unconditional basic income can reduce socio-economic differences and make social benefits fairer. In doing so, she addresses a topic that has gained political relevance not only in Austria in recent years, particularly in the context of social inequalities and the challenges of the labour market. Various sub-questions are discussed on the basis of expert interviews and literature research. Ms Egger begins with a description of wage labour in a historical context and then examines the extent to which the unconditional basic income could influence wage labour, whether the UBI would be able to reduce social inequalities better than the current system of social security and whether the UBI could be financed.
Finally, Ms Egger reflects again on the arguments for and against the introduction of a UBI and comes to the conclusion that a social budget is still necessary alongside a UBI in order to be able to respond to individual cases of hardship.
2nd prize: Lilly Schreiber; Bundesrealgymnasium Adolf-Pichler-Platz, Innsbruck. Supervisor: Nellie Veulliet.
Title: Social aspects of veganism
The pre-scientific paper written by Mrs Schreiber deals with the vegan diet, which is increasingly in demand due to animal welfare considerations, health aspects and/or for reasons of resource conservation. In addition to references to current statistical surveys, she undertakes her own data collection on the motives for a vegan diet as part of an online survey of 230 participants. In terms of socio-economic characteristics, it was found that women and younger people with a higher level of formal education were the ones who opted for a vegan diet. The data collected specifically for the VWA confirms the evidence from other surveys that ethical, ecological and health-related reasons are the main reasons for abstaining from animal products. The fact that the decision in favour of a vegan diet can also lead to interpersonal tensions if ethical views and values regarding eating habits differ greatly is another aspect that Ms Schreiber addresses.
3rd prize: Daria Saumwald; Meinhardinum Stams. Supervisor: Astrid Schuchter.
Title: Gender pay gap: research into causes in Europe
In her pre-scientific work, Ms Saumwald addresses an important topic, namely the persistent income differences between women and men. This gender pay gap is particularly relevant for Austria, as the gender-specific income differences here are still very large in an international comparison. In an EU-wide comparison of the size of the gender pay gap, Austria occupies the inglorious 2nd place. Taking this up, Ms Saumwald gives a concise overview in the first part of her work of both the types of measurement and the current scale of the income differences in an international comparison, and also shows the development over time. In the second part of her work, she broadens her perspective and combines economic research findings with sociological approaches.
Prize winners at the Faculty of Business an Management 2024
1st prize: Larissa Minoggio, Elias Willam, Tobias Bitschnau; Bezauer Wirtschaftsschulen. Supervision: Theresia Beer.
Title: Façade-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Unutilised potential?!
This pre-scientific work deals with topics that affect us all: Climate change, energy transition and also the question of making money with green technology under the keyword ‘green growth’. The authors Larissa Minoggio, Elias Willam and Tobias Bitschnau, in cooperation with project partner Rhomberg, are taking a comprehensive look at the potential of BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaics) in the Bregenzerwald compared to conventional façade types. The trio of authors tackle a wide range of questions relating to technology, ecology, economy, bureaucracy, monument protection, building orientation, social acceptance and the aesthetics of this architecture in a cultural landscape. Consequently, it cannot remain a purely financial amortisation calculation. The example of Bentele Genuss GmbH in the Bregenzerwald illustrates the potential for the expansion of photovoltaics in Austria in general. The existing potential could be exploited even further if the economic benefits were to be emphasised more strongly, while not ignoring the issues of appreciative treatment of local architecture and acceptance of BIPV among the population.
2nd prize: Elena Feurstein, Mona Greussing; Bezauer Wirtschaftsschulen. Supervision: Elena Dalmonek.
Title: Back to nature - how can medicinal herbs be used today?
How about a ‘Krütrschluck’ for a positive effect on the immune system and in connection with menstruation, infertility and menopause? For this topic, Elena Feurstein and Mona Greussing have extensively researched the long tradition of medicinal herbs and the knowledge about their effectiveness that has nevertheless been lost. The idea is to re-publicise medicinal herbs and make them easy to use. The authors put this idea into practice in a project with partner company Metzler Naturhautnah. The result is the ‘Krütrschluck’ in the form of a powder made from various medicinal herbs from the Bregenzerwald and other resources, including whey powder. The sophisticated product development is paired with a concrete marketing concept and corresponding pricing, so that Metzler Naturhautnah can seamlessly utilise the overall concept.
3rd prize: Julian Hefel; Bezauer Wirtschaftsschulen. Supervision: Bernhard Álvarez Sanchez.
Title: The pumpkin seed oil press cake - leftover product or superfood. Sustainable food production using an Austrian residual product.
In his pre-scientific work, Julian Hefel is investigating the development and marketing of a new type of protein bar. The press cake resulting from pumpkin seed oil production is to be utilised to meet the increasing demand for healthy and plant-based protein alternatives. Nutritional and ecological aspects must be taken into account when it comes to sustainable, high-quality product development. The target groups are the middle class, post-materialists and performers. The marketing strategy aims to emphasise the uniqueness of the product when it comes to satisfying the needs of the identified target groups in an increasingly diversified protein bar market. Accompanying Sinus-Milieu analyses help to better adapt the marketing strategies to the different needs and preferences of the target groups. The combination of traditional and modern marketing approaches as well as the aspects of regionality and sustainability position the pumpkin seed bar as an attractive and healthy alternative in this market segment. In addition, this VWA clearly shows how innovative utilisation of by-products in the food industry can be designed in an economically and sustainably sensible way.