Last summer UNIQA (then still under the names Austria-Collegialität and Bundesländer-Versicherung) initiated the biggest study of the future ever to be made in Austria. Questionnaires were sent to all Austrian households; 65,000 replies were received. This huge response was analysed by the Fessel-Gfk-Institute headed by Prof. Rudolf Bretschneider, using standard market research methods.

The picture it revealed was a surprise to many: “another Austria” of the present day but not tied to it, forward-looking and interested in new things, close to tomorrow, mainly optimistic and content. The well-known journalist and best-selling author Dr. Georg Wailand has summed up the main results in easily readable form, with many diagrams and quotes from respondents..

In addition, seven international and Austrian experts give their views on individual aspects of the study from their personal point of view.  The spectrum ranges from the question how future-oriented the Austrians are by international comparison to considering how wants and wishes regarding family life and the world of work are compatible and to the provocative question “Is the environment out of fashion?” The book is enriched with numerous drawings by children, returned with the filled-in questionnaires. All in all, it presents a fascinating survey of the attitude of Austrians on the eve of the millennium  – showing major trends and little peculiarities.

The book “Our future is bright” was presented on 8th November 1999 by UNIQA General Director Herbert Schimetschek and the authors. Schimetschek, who also presented the new UNIQA Group Austria to the public on the same day, said: "As an insurance company we aim to be unique, in that we put the individual, far from any clichés and target group definitions, at the centre of our activities, with   his or her own personal and unique wishes, hopes and expectations. With the UNIQA study of the future and this book we are setting a first signal– and at the same time giving the Austrians an optimistic present for the turn of the millennium.

It is also a present for several thousand Austrians, who after filling in the questionnaire made use of the opportunity to order the book free or charge and who will receive it in the next few days. For others who are interested, the UNIQA book of the future is now available from booksellers.

The book

"Our future is bright. The OTHER Austria – findings of the UNIQA study of the future”
edited by  Dr. Georg Wailand
With a foreword by General Director Herbert Schimetschek, an introduction by Prof. Rudolf Bretschneider and contributions from General Director DI Albert Hochleitner (Siemens AG Österreich), Prof. Dr. Gertrud Höhler (business and political consultant), General Director Prof. Dr. Bernd Lötsch (Museum of Natural History, Vienna), Dr. Antonella Mei-Pochtler (Senior Vice President, The Boston Consulting Group GmbH), Prof. Dr. Gabriele Morello, (University of Palermo), Prof. Dr. Peter Vitouch (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Empirical Media Studies) and others.

Signum Publishers
Paperback öS 148 /DM 19.80 / sFr 19
140 pages
ISBN 3-85436-310-9