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In this paper, supply disruption impacts along supply chains within the Swiss mobility, energy and ICT sectors are assessed in the short-term (i.e. the next 5 years) using the recently developed SPOTTER approach with the objective to identify hotspots and technologies associated with comparably low supply risks. SPOTTER has been chosen because, compared to other approaches, it is the only one that allows for an assessment along the full supply chain and it is integrated into the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework. To decrease the respective data acquisition efforts for the here-performed supply risk analysis of entire sectors, in a first step, material/product flows that are most influential for an assessment with SPOTTER are identified and considered for the calculation of related impact scores. Our study analyzes critical material and product flows between trade partner countries along relevant supply chains. It thus identifies new hotspots and adds relevant country-specific information to current knowledge. In particular, the identified hotspots refer to volatile prices of solar panels, interrupted trade of oil and gas from Russia, Nigeria and Niger as well as disrupted imports of electronic devices from China. Suggestions for mitigation strategies comprise hedging and/or diversifying the supply chains. Other identified hotspots refer to the critical supply of cobalt and natural graphite along battery supply chains, which could for example be addressed by supporting and/or incentivizing the construction of a circular economy. A third category of identified hotspots indicates risks related to the trade of hafnium and nuclear power plant equipment that could be mitigated by shifting to less risky energy technologies. Our comparisons of overall impacts between relevant technologies suggest higher supply risks for conventional cars, solar panels and Chinese laptops compared to battery electric cars, wind turbines and German laptops. In these comparisons, more details regarding disruptions along full product and fuel supply chains are considered than in current studies. [Display omitted] • Supply disruption hotspots are analyzed along global supply chains for the Swiss mobility, energy and ICT sectors. • Identified hotspots suggest supply risks for fossil fuels, battery materials, electronic devices, solar panels and nuclear power equipment. • Flows between Congo, Chile, China and South Korea and imports from China, Russia, Nigeria and Niger are particular critical. • Electric vehicles, wind turbines and German laptops have lower supply risks compared to conventional vehicles, solar panels and Chinese laptops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although diverse, the potential business opportunities for biotechnology outside the biopharmaceutical market are very large. White biotechnology can offer sustainable operations and products, while investments tend to be lower than those in red biotechnology. But a number of bottlenecks and roadblocks in Switzerland must be removed to realise the full potential of white biotechnology. This was also the point of view of Oreste Ghisalba, who wanted to be part of a new initiative to facilitate the creation of additional business, new processes and new products. This initiative requires the identification and the use of synergies and a much better cooperation between academia and industry through targeted networking. Unfortunately, we must carry on with this task without Oreste, whom we will miss for his deep knowledge and friendship.

Many countries are reallocating tasks and powers to more central levels of government. To identify centralization's welfare effects, I use a difference-in-differences design that relies on time and cross-cantonal variations in the implementation of centralization reforms in Switzerland. I find that centralization provokes significant decreases in residents' life satisfaction. I identify one mechanism driving the effect: the procedural disutility that individuals experience from having less influence over the formulation of political decisions. This effect is largest among individuals with higher expected benefits from being involved in the political decision process, with detrimental effects on local political participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die Schweizer Volkswirtschaft bewegte sich zu Beginn der Covid-19-Pandemie aus einem konjunkturellen Tief in eine sanfte Aufschwungsphase mit im internationalen Vergleich niedriger Arbeitslosigkeit und gesunden öffentlichen Finanzen. Aufgrund ihrer geographischen Lage waren insbesondere die italienisch- und französischsprachigen Regionen der Schweiz frühzeitig und stark von Ansteckungen mit SARS-CoV-2 betroffen. Während der Sperrperiode (sanfter Lockdown) hatte die Strukturerhaltung höchste Priorität. Arbeitsplätze wurden durch Kurzarbeit erhalten, die Liquidität der Unternehmen wurde durch den einfachen und raschen Zugang zu günstigen und staatlich garantierten Krediten gewährleistet. Im Hinblick auf die Prävention der Überschuldung der Wirtschaft und die für Innovations- und Investitionsentscheidungen relevante Erwartungsbildung wurde allerdings wenig unternommen. Unternehmen erhielten keine nennenswerte Unterstützung für ihre Kapitalkosten. In der Kommunikation der Regierung fehlte es zudem oft an vorwärtsorientierenden Aussagen. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Swiss economy was moving from an economic low into a gentle upswing phase with low unemployment and healthy public finances by international standards. Due to its geographic location, Switzerland and in particular its Italian- and French-speaking regions were affected early and severely by SARS-CoV-2 infections. During the (gentle) lockdown period, the preservation of structures had top priority. Jobs were maintained by short-time work and the liquidity of enterprises was upheld by easy and quick access to cheap and state-guaranteed credit. In contrast, little was done to prevent over-indebtedness of the economy and for firms to form expectations relevant for innovation and investment decisions. Companies received no significant support for bearing their cost of capital. The communication of government often lacked forward guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local autonomy has been the subject of increasing scrutiny in recent decades. The many studies published, based on indicators on the macro level, show that local autonomy in Switzerland is comparatively high, although its degree varies depending on the canton, the dimension of autonomy and the public policy involved. Some scholars criticise this reductive formal approach. Therefore, this article considers the cantonal legal framework but also follows a bottom-up and sectoral approach. It analyses local autonomy through its various dimensions and its relationship with the choice of governance arrangements for delivering a public service, calling the macro results into question. Methodologically, it is based on interviews in 16 Swiss municipalities selected according to the executive councillors' perception of autonomy in sport and public-transport policies collected in a comprehensive survey. It emphasises the differences between formal, perceived and effective autonomy and enriches the debate on the various methodological approaches thereto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study macro-financial linkages and their importance within the Swiss economy from a network perspective. First, we investigate the real-financial connectedness in the Swiss economy, using the KOF economic barometer, obtained from real and financial variables, and, the real activity index (RAI), we distilled from a small set of real variables, as two alternative proxies for the real side. Whereas the KOF-barometer-based analysis shows that both sides transmit sizeable shocks to each other without one dominating the other, the RAI-based analysis shows that in the aggregate, the financial side turns out to be the net shock transmitter to the real sector. In the second part, we focus on the relative importance of financial markets as shock propagators using a network centrality measure. We find that 2008–2009 recession in Switzerland and the Swiss National Bank's (SNB) exchange rate policy changes in 2011 and 2015 have significantly altered the way the shocks are transmitted across the two sides of the economy. During 2009–2011, stock, bond, and foreign exchange (FX) markets, in descending order, played important roles as shock propagators. Following the SNB's 2015 policy decision to discontinue the lower bound for the EUR/CHF exchange rate, FX market has become equally important as the stock market but more important than the bond market as a shock propagator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a five-step statistical procedure to examine a linkage among export diversification, mean-reversion of exports, and stability of the export–growth causality. This linkage was assessed for France, Norway, and Switzerland between 1980Q1 and 2016Q4. The findings indicated that the mean-reversion tendency of the export sectors in France and Switzerland was stronger than in Norway, which highlighted the important role of export activities for economic growth in France and Switzerland. Also, the causal relationship between exports and economic growth in Norway was found to be more unstable than in France, but more stable than in Switzerland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pricing of newly issued bonds on the Swiss capital market is investigated over the years 1980-1982. The results reveal a slight underpricing of new bonds at the issue date that is roughly equal to the difference in transactions costs between the markets for new and seasoned bonds. Underpricing is no longer observed when the new bonds start to be traded on the stock exchange, that is, after about two days. Tests of several hypotheses show that unexpected changes in interest rates over the offering period explain part of the underpricing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The mean exergy efficiency of the Swiss industry sector is estimated to be 27%. • The mean energy efficiency of the Swiss industry sector is estimated to be 61%. • Energy efficiency cost curves are developed for excess heat recovery in industry. • The annual economic thermal energy saving potential is estimated at 14 PJ. • New steam gen. technologies could provide 30–40% of the Swiss ind.’s steam demand. Abstract Typically, 70% of the total final energy demand in the industry sector is used for process heat. A substantial share of this energy could be provided by excess heat recovery. This study evaluates the techno-economic excess heat recovery potential in the Swiss industry through exergy and energy analysis and provides an overview of the spatial distribution of the potential by temperature level. The specific costs and payback periods of excess heat recovery are analyzed by conventional and new measures, as well as the overall costs of sector-wide excess heat recovery. The overall mean energy and exergy efficiencies of the Swiss industry sector are estimated to be 61% and 27%, respectively. The total amount of potentially recoverable excess heat is estimated at 14 PJ per year, i.e. 12% of the total final energy and 24% of the total process heat demand of Swiss industry in 2016. However, the economic potential amounts to only 5% and 10% if a payback period of 3 and 4 years is assumed, respectively. Long payback times of heat recovery measures and a high percentage of low-quality and small heat streams were the most important barriers to energy efficiency improvement in Swiss industry. Furthermore, 30–40% of the steam demand in Swiss industry could be provided from excess heat in an economically viable manner, if all excess heat available at temperatures below 80 °C was utilized for steam generation using low pressure evaporation, vapor compression, and high temperature heat pump techniques. The results and the data provided in this study can be adapted to other regions of the world and can serve as a base for conducting more comprehensive analyses and formulating more effective policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Swiss land administration system has developed over the last 100 years into a reliable and stable infrastructure underpinning the social and economic context of the country. Switzerland enjoys an established and long-standing political and economic stability, for which the cadastral system is an important element. This article presents the swiss cadastre and the context, in which it is being operated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the methodological process and the main findings of a research on crime displacement between two cantons (states) of Switzerland from 2009 to 2012. Two analytical axes have been considered: displacement of crime incidents on the one hand, and displacement of offenders for offences against the Swiss Criminal Code on the other hand. Data were provided by police statistics of the two cantons involved and by a regional crime intelligence database, supplemented by documentary analysis, interviews and field observations. Measures of crime displacement were realized with variation in crime rates, difference-in-differences estimation and weighted displacement quotient applied to a selection of offences. Findings suggest the presence of a regional crime displacement of burglary, pickpocketing, simple theft and break-in theft in vehicle between 2011 and 2012. Displacement of offenders seems to follow this trend as well and highlights a small proportion of inter-regional offenders, but who are extremely prolific. These results and the study of displacement in general shed light on the effect of crime reduction strategies and provide many prospective pathways, such as the strengthening of inter-regional collaborations between the police forces in a federal State, and the systematic use of crime intelligence to reduce mobile criminal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citizens in modern democratic societies are confronted with complex demands, challenges, and economic problems, and they typically act as consumers, savers, voters, and employees. It is highly desirable for citizens to be able to competently manage these various demands. This ability we call economic-civic competence. Given the lack of empirical findings and adequate instruments on this issue, we analyze the economic-civic competence of commercial apprentices in Germany and Switzerland. In Swiss commercial apprenticeships, the fostering of this competence is explicitly anchored in the curricula of vocational schools. In Germany, the curricula coverage is not as broad as in Switzerland, which leads to an assumption of country differences in civic-economic competence. Methods: A total of 1255 apprentices in the commercial occupations/branches of industrial clerk and logistic clerk were assessed at the end of their second or third training year. Our newly developed, reliable and valid technology-based assessment on economic-civic competence includes issues such as the Euro crisis and public debt. Results and conclusions: An advantage among the male trainees, which was expected from previous research, was confirmed only among the German logistic clerks. The expected gender effect was not observed among the German industrial clerks or the Swiss clerks. Furthermore, the results confirm the hypothesized higher scores among German trainees with a university entrance degree. In both countries, the industrial clerks scored significantly higher than the logistic clerks did, and the Swiss trainees scored higher than did their German counterparts in a comparable occupation. This difference becomes markedly stronger if only learners without a university entrance degree are considered. One possible explanation for the country difference may be that the promotion of economic-civic competence has a more prominent role in Swiss vocational schools during commercial apprenticeship. Considering the methodological restrictions, the findings should be interpreted primarily as explorative depictions of the characteristics and group differences of economic-civic competence. However, our study can also be seen in the broader context of contemporary interest and challenges in developing technology-based assessment within the field of education. Thus, our study contributes to further research on the characteristics and genesis of economic-civic competences as well as on technology-based assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research found that less accommodating caseworkers are more successful in placing unemployed workers into employment. This paper explores the causal mechanisms behind this result using semiparametric mediation analysis. Analyzing rich linked job seeker-caseworker data for Switzerland, we find that the positive employment effects of less accommodating caseworkers are not driven by a particularly effective mix of labor market programs but, rather, by other dimensions of the counseling process, possibly including threats of sanctions and pressure to accept jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate the long-run economic consequences of phasing out nuclear energy in the presence of stringent climate policies. We integrate endogenous growth theory and technology-based activity analysis into a dynamic numerical general equilibrium model. Both market-based and policy-mandated nuclear phase-out are studied. Using data from the Swiss economy we find that the aggregate welfare loss of carbon policy is as large as 1.21% and that nuclear phase-out raises the loss to 1.58%. Nuclear phase-out has no significant effect on economic growth. Increased investment, induced innovation, and sectoral change are the reasons that the economic impact of nuclear phase-out and the trade-off between energy and climate policy are moderate, once the dynamics of an economy are taken into account. Optimal phase-out time for nuclear depends mainly on future cost escalation in the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an essay on the overseas migrations of people from Einsiedeln, Switzerland to U.S. between 1850 and 1950 owing to economic crisis and Swiss Catholicism. The article discusses the history of migratory processes in Switzerland and the term saltwater curtain. The article also refers to the centrality of socio-cultural factors leading to the migrations. The article stresses on how people from Einsiedeln and their descendants are settled in Louisville, Ohio.

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This article examines, in a comparative perspective, the integration policy of the two, in many respects, very similar, neutral states, with particular emphasis on the period after the signing of the Single European Act. Despite the converging political and economic objectives, the decisions of both countries were determined by different economic and political conditions. For Austria, the integration processes were perceived as an important step, towards reconstruction of the economy, the abolition of trade barriers with the most important economic partner. In political terms integration - enhanced Austria's position within European Community. Unlike the Austrian Government, the authorities in Bern have acted under much more polarized conditions. Neutrality played still very important role in its international policies and the social fears connected mostly to the loss of political and economic independence were vivid. The Swiss authorities were thus forced to choose the bilateral path, which was not preferred by EU countries, but more socially acceptable, and therefore easier to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switzerland's employment growth since the early 2000s was very high in both historical and international perspective, despite solid real wage increases and only moderate GDP growth. Yet, the reasons for the remarkable creation of jobs are largely unknown. We aim at filling this gap by studying the underlying characteristics and drivers of the Swiss 'job miracle'. We first outline the characteristics of the 'job miracle' and show that the observed job growth correlates with a substantial increase in the labor intensity of economic activity. We then discuss five potential drivers of the unprecedented employment growth, which are consistent with the facts. Our empirical results suggest that immigration was the key factor in explaining the 'job miracle' as it raised local demand and thereby triggered the creation of additional jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines federal dynamics during times of crisis in fiscally decentralized federations using Switzerland as an example. Based on qualitative research, we analyse how the relationship between the federal government and the cantons evolved during the recent ‘Great Recession’ and ensuing financial crisis. We contend that fiscally decentralized structures, as well as the consensus-oriented institutions of the political system, protect the federal balance of power. Our results show that Switzerland indeed adapted well to the crisis of the 2009 economic recession. However, the deficit crisis has revealed challenging coordination problems, notably in the areas of fiscal equalization and corporate taxation, which have the potential to put federal stability under stress. So far, the system has adapted well and safeguarded the federal order. Due to its combination of fiscally decentralized institutions and a strong consensus culture, Switzerland has proven to be a particularly robust federation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]