SWITZERLAND

Switzerland

KEA Stocks: Eleanor Smith, Annie Parkhill,

Kendra Weiser

General

Switzerland has a population of around 8.0 million

Gross Domestic Product: $363.4 billion
Unemployment rate is only 2.9% (US around 6%)
Economic freedom is ranked fourth in the world (first in
its region- very little competition in Europe)
Direct Democracy
Three levels of Swiss government, parliament, and
courts
Federal
Cantonal
Communal
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/switzerland
Photos from Google Images

Business Climate
Limited government
involvement
Hands Off Approach
boosts entrepreneurial
activity as well as
business freedom
0% Tariff Rate trade
freedom is extremely
high (open markets)
One of the worlds

richest, most investmentfriendly, and welldeveloped services

industry

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/switzerland
Photos from Google Images

How does Switzerland promote

business?
A developed market economy based on free initiative
Government participation is fairly moderate
(intervention is limited)
Freedom of trade and industry is promoted by the
government (attempt to provide a successful economic
network)
26 cantonal governments have high administration
authority and enforce specific laws and constitutions
Low tax revenues compared to EU (foreign companies
eager to partner with Swiss business)
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Switzerland-POLITICSGOVERNMENT-AND-TAXATION.html

Labor Situation
Labor Force is composed of people ages 15 and over
One of the most productive labor forces
Salaries fairly high due to countrys wealth and
prosperity
Modest taxes and low capital costs
Three major laws Swiss Code of Obligations: employment contracts and the
like
Labor Act: general health and safety (also regards pregnant
women, young people, and work/rest times)
Accident Prevention Law: safety at work
http://www.s-ge.com/sites/default/files/EN_USA_Investorenhandbuch_120514_8.pdf
http://swiss-government-politics.all-about-switzerland.info/

Infrastructure
Rail
Most frequent travelers in all of Europe
Three major railways
Very punctual and reliable trains are rarely late

Road
Extremely dense highway network
High proportion of tunnels due to elevation

Air
Three International airports
User friendly and high quality standard
Freight (around 411,100 tons) and passengers (about 23
million per year)
http://www.s-ge.com/sites/default/files/EN_USA_Investorenhandbuch_120514_11.pdf
Photos from Google Images

Energy, Water, Healthcare

Energy - reliable and secure nationwide energy supply
Most important suppliers are hydro power plants and atomic power
plants
Connected with European energy system insures that Switzerland
with have electricity

Water - rich in water resources

6% of water for Europe comes from the
Swiss Alps
Ground water from wells and springs account
of consumption
Around 900 waste water treatment plants

for 80%

Healthcare among the best in the world

Around 11% of GDP is spent on healthcare
Dense network of hospitals, dental practices, and pharmacies

http://www.s-ge.com/sites/default/files/EN_USA_Investorenhandbuch_120514_11.pdf
Photos from Google Images

Current Leadership
President: Didier Burkhalter
Liberal

Swiss Peoples Party

Control the seat of the council

The Federal Council has seven people

Equivalent to Americas cabinet
Four year terms by a joint session of both houses
of parliament
Women took majority in 2010
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17982245
Photos from Google Images

Gradual Freedom
Property Rights: 90.0
Freedom from Corruption: 88.1
Flexible
The countries flexibility has resulted in an
improvement in their economy
High rate of innovation
Low unemployment rate means stable base

Switzerland has improved its trade freedom and

its management for public spending
Have market openness in trade and financial freedom
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/switzerland

Foreign Friends
At the moment, there are 6,500 foreign companies hard at work in
Switzerland
Very welcoming to companies wanting to work

This leaves a positive affect on the country

More jobs, production and success

Increase in investments
More taxes paid
Quality balance in traded goods

These companies are attracted to

Switzerland because:
They have an attractive market
They offer unique skills and production
capabilities
It serves as a gateway to Europe
http://www.amcham.ch/publications/downloads/20060101_bcg_amcham_s
tudy.pdf
Photos from Google Images

Why Switzerland
Important to have a country that is open to new ideas and
concepts
Seven reasons why Switzerland is the best
Small is good government is more productive and doesnt
have to spend as much money
The voter is the most important person
Government is left little tax money
Big decisions are based on the areas of need
No career politicians
Avoids the labels does not specifically believe on type of
government or citizen is the right kind
Middle class attitude men and women are modest. They do
not necessarily worry about luxury.
http://www.businessinsider.com/swiss-managemenet-lessons-201212

The Future
Switzerland already has a fantastic basis of a
strong economy
As time goes on, the tax and unemployment rates
are unlikely to have a large increase
With its foreign company acceptance, it will
continue to prosper financially
The low-key government and happy citizens
results in an efficient, well run system
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/SwitzerlandFUTURE-TRENDS.html

Only the Best

There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine.
And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant,
more passionate than "politicians" think. We have to be
there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their
force: not in books expressing them, but in events
manifesting this force, in struggles carried on around ideas,
for or against them. Ideas do not rule the world. But it is
because the world has ideas ... that it is not passively ruled
by those who are its leaders or those who would like to
teach it, once and for all, what it must think.
With the strong influence of creativity and thinking, Switzerland
will only produce the best of the best

http://quotes.dictionary.com/search/didier_burkhalter?page=1#Y0Z4fKmpj
SWdaTH8.99

Demographics
Population: 8,061,516 (July 2014)
Age Structure:
0-24 years: 26.5%
25-54 years: 43.9%
55 years and over: 29.5%

Population Growth Rate:

0.78%
Median Age: 42 years
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/demographics_profile.html
Photos from Google Images

Why invest in Switzerland?

Home to some of the worlds finest
multinational companies
Nestle
Roche
Novartis

Home to 2 of the largest international banks in

the world
Credit Suisse
UBS AG
http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/09/investing-in-switzerland/2/
Photos from Google Images

Switzerland Politics
Government is made up of 7 members
Elected by the Federal Assembly

Government members take turns acting as

president
Swiss people can influence political affairs
through their direct democracy
Their position as a neutral state allows
Switzerland to play an important role in world
affairs
http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/09/investing-in-switzerland/2/

Banking
Regulated by the Swiss Financial Market
Supervisory Authority
Famous for bank secrecy
A principle under which banks are not allowed to
provide to authorities personal and account
information about their customers unless certain
conditions apply

Bank secrecy was put into affect in 1934

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_in_Switzerland#Banking_privacy
Photos from Google Images

Economy
Based on a highly qualified labor force
performing highly skilled work
Swiss products can command high prices in world
markets because consumers are ready to pay for
high quality

Most people working in this country are

employed by small and medium-sized
enterprises
Rely greatly on foreign trade
http://www.swissworld.org/en/economy/
Photos from Google Images

Switzerland's Natural Beauty

Switzerland is extremely
beautiful thus making it a
great tourist location

Works Cited
BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Switzerland."
Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI,
Corruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.
Foreign Companies in Switzerland: The Forgotten Sector.
Zurich: Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, 2006. Web.
Nisen, Max. "7 Reasons Why Switzerland Is The Best-Run
Country In The World."
Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 12
Nov. 2014.
"Didier Burkhalter Quotes."
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

"Switzerland."
Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. N.p., n.d.
Web. 09 Nov. 2014.
"Political System and Government."
Switzerland's Government and Politics. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Switzerland Has One Of The Most Productive Workforces Of, Any National
Economy. Its Labor Market Is Characterized By, Liberal Legislation, Light-Touch
Regulation And Exceptional So-, and Cial Stability. Labor Conicts Are Solved
Through The Produc-.
8. Labor Market and Labor Laws. (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
"Derakane for Infrastructure."
Reinforced Plastics 55.2 (2011): 23. Web.
"Encyclopedia of the Nations."
Switzerland Politics, Government, and Taxation, Information about Politics,
Government, and Taxation in Switzerland. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
"Switzerland Demographics Profile 2014."
Switzerland Demographics Profile 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Switzerland Profile."