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Credit Suisse enters economic reform debate

This content was published on Jan 8, 2004 Alois Bischofberger, the chief economist of Credit Suisse, on Wednesday said ordinary Swiss need to actively help reform the economy to boost growth. Bischofberger said the recent federal cabinet elections had provided a fresh opportunity for economic reform. However, he said encouraging growth in Switzerland was not only the job of the government. “Everyone needs…

Swiss want banned airlines to be named

This content was published on Jan 7, 2004 The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) said it would reveal more information if it were not tied to a European aviation agreement. The call follows revelations that the passenger jet involved in Saturday’s deadly crash in Egypt was one of 24 aircraft banned from Swiss airspace. The Flash Airlines Boeing 737 crashed into the…

Scientist criticises botched Beagle mission

This content was published on Jan 7, 2004 Nothing has been heard from Beagle – which was carrying Swiss instruments – since it attempted to land on the planet on Christmas Day. The European Space Agency (ESA) made a further attempt on Wednesday to locate the tiny lander, but without success. Scientists were hoping that its mothership, Mars Express, would make contact with…

Drug industry clamps down on bribery

This content was published on Jan 7, 2004 The voluntary code is intended to stop drug companies offering gifts or other incentives to doctors who prescribe their products. Around 70 per cent of Swiss firms, including Novartis and Roche, have already adopted the guidelines. “The purpose of the new code is to stop pharmaceutical companies from engaging in practices that result in conflicts…

More businesses decide “Swiss” stands for quality

This content was published on Jan 6, 2004 The company is among a number of Swiss firms that have decided the word “Swiss” stands for quality and reliability. Swiss Life said in a statement that it had decided to go under one name in future in order to better promote the company internationally. It already used the name Swiss Life everywhere, but in…

Falling dollar casts shadow over recovery

This content was published on Jan 6, 2004 Some economists fear the weak dollar could torpedo a nascent recovery by Switzerland’s export-dependent economy. The dollar has been steadily losing ground against the franc since mid-2001, when it reached a high of SFr1.80. The latest slide follows comments from Ben Bernanke, a governor at the United States Federal Reserve, that US interest rates would…

Preserving ancient tradition is cold comfort

This content was published on Jan 6, 2004 swissinfo discovered that bone-chilling temperatures can freeze an ancient Engadine courting ritual in its tracks. The young men and women of the villages of the Upper Engadine valley are praying for crisp but not extreme winter temperatures for this year’s “Schlitteda”. The horse-drawn sleigh processions take place each weekend in a different village in the…

Egyptian crash carrier’s fleet had “serious faults”

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 But the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) said it was drawing no conclusions about Saturday’s crash, which killed all 148 people on board. The agency said in a statement it had found a number of defects on both aircraft, including missing navigational documents, fuel calculations that didn’t match international standards and unsuitable emergency exit…

Welfare handouts put authorities under strain

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 Local authorities across Switzerland warn they will not be able to cope if the trend continues. Welfare benefits are the last safety net in Switzerland for people without work after they can no longer claim unemployment benefit. In July the government slashed by a quarter the period during which benefit can be claimed – from…

Growth forecasts divide economists

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 Estimates for GDP growth are modest, ranging from 0.9-1.9 per cent. In the latest forecast, Jean-Pierre Roth, chairman of the Swiss National Bank, said the economy would grow by 1.5 per cent as export demand began to rise. This contrasts with a more cautious prediction of 0.9 per cent by Switzerland’s leading economic barometer, issued…

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