This 2003 Article IV Consultation highlights that following a solid expansion in 1997–2000, economic growth in Switzerland is currently stalled as exports have been hurt by the global slowdown and domestic investment has undergone a sharp downward correction from earlier high levels. The...

This technical note discusses key findings of the assessment of Insurance Core Principles (ICP) for the reinsurance industry for Switzerland. It reveals that the Swiss reinsurance market is dominated by three large players with a strong international presence. The reinsurance industry comprises...

This Selected Issues paper takes a close look at the proximate determinants and short-term dynamics of inflation in Switzerland. It identifies salient features of the inflation experience in Switzerland. The paper uses a wage-price model to gauge the sensitivity of inflation to the business...

This paper presents key findings of Switzerland’s Financial System Stability Assessment, including Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Banking Supervision, Securities Regulation, Insurance Regulation, Payment Systems, and Monetary and Financial Policy Transparency. Overall,...

In Switzerland, institutionalized expenditure restraints via budget rules have been in use for some time at the cantonal level and for various city budgets. Under the proposed rule for the federal government, spending limits are set by the government although the parliament is primarily allowed...

Switzerland has had a mixed macroeconomic performance over the past quarter century. After stagnating in the 1990s, the Swiss economy has finally shown some spark. Registered unemployment has declined sharply during the upswing and was below 2 percent in early 2001 amidst reports of increasing...

This Selected Issues paper examines economic growth in Switzerland. It attempts to analyze whether slow growth is inescapable for Switzerland. The paper suggests that income convergence across countries contributes significantly to slow relative growth in Switzerland, but experience in several...