Economics report on Switzerland

Economics Report on Switzerland

2005

Outline

Introduction

Political System

Economic Aspects

Key Macroeconomic and Growth Indicators

Trade Analysis

Agriculture

Financial Sector

Key Event

Appendix

Bibliography

Introduction

In 1291 , inhabitants of three small valleys (Uri , Schwyz , and Unterwalden ) formed an alliance to resist their Austrian occupiers which consequently became the beginning of the Swiss Confederation Several other cantons went on to join them , and the league grew in power and strength until 1499 , when the Treaty of Basel finally recognized the independence

of Switzerland from the Roman Empire . In 1815 Switzerland finalized its boundaries , when the cantons of Valais , Neuchatel , and Geneva joined the Swiss Union of States . In 1848 , the Union of States changed its name to Confederation . The federal constitution , enacted in 1848 and revised in 1874 , was heavily influenced by that of the Americans . Embodied in the constitution were the principles of freedom of trade and industry , religion , press , petition and association , the right to private property , as well as Switzerland 's unique institution of direct democracy , i .e . the right of citizens to hold referenda on any issue . In contemporary context , Switzerland , strategically located in the heart of Europe , is one of the most intriguing countries from various perspectives : political (its neutrality , economical (banking capital of the world , educational (one of the world 's best educational systems , etc

Political System

Switzerland is one of the oldest and most stable democracies in Europe Direct democracy , federalism , and neutrality are deeply rooted in the Swiss political tradition and culture . As a true confederation of states , political and administrative responsibilities are divided among the federal (national , cantonal , and municipal levels of government which makes it to be very similar in the sense of political system and organization to the United States , even despite the great differences in the size and structure of territory , minority and ethnical groups , etc

At the federal level , the legislative duties are overseen by a bicameral Federal Assembly , which is divided into the National Council and the Council of States . The National Council is modeled after the U .S . House of Representatives its 200 members are elected directly by popular vote on a basis of proportional representation (Schwok and Duvivier , 42 . The Council of States is modeled after the U .S . Senate it counts 46 members , e .g . two representatives from every canton and only one from so-called half cantons (former cantons that split Members of both councils are elected for four-year terms and meet four times a year in Bern

The executive power is administered by the Federal Council , which counts seven members elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly from among its own members . For more than 30 years , they have been drawn proportionally from the four largest national parties . Swiss people often refer to this arrangement as "the magic formula " The Swiss president is designated every year among the seven . He is both the chief of state and head of government

Although decisions are the prerogative of elected officials , the Swiss...