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Experts call for reform of federalism

This content was published on Feb 14, 2005 The report, published on Monday by the think tank, Avenir Suisse, calls for the creation of six “super regions” around Switzerland’s main cities to help act as motors for growth. Experts said the current federal system of 26 cantons and more than 3,000 local authorities was hampering economic growth and lacked transparency and efficiency. “Small…

Carnival reaches highpoint in Basel

This content was published on Feb 14, 2005 Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of the city early on Monday as the annual festival – the country’s biggest – got underway. The festivities were launched in the early hours of the morning with hundreds of colourfully costumed drummers and pipers cramming the streets and alleys. At 4am the lights went out…

Red tape hinders poverty alleviation

This content was published on Feb 12, 2005 Maurer said that attempts to help the poor were often held up by red tape and were unrealistic. The ambassador made his comments to the UN General Assembly on Friday during a discussion of a report on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This project aims to reduce worldwide poverty by 2015 by setting out…

Parties discuss youth jobless measures

This content was published on Feb 11, 2005 But differences remain over a series measures proposed by Economics Minister Joseph Deiss. The official jobless rate among 15- to 24-year-olds currently stands at 5.1 per cent, against a national average of 4.0 per cent. The figures prompted calls for action from political quarters as well as trade unions ahead of talks on Friday between…

Federal deficit set to shrink by half

This content was published on Feb 11, 2005 Thanks to a combination of higher-than-expected revenue and less spending, the national accounts will be SFr1.7 billion ($1.4 billion) in the red, according to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. That compares with a projected deficit of SFr3.5 billion. The Zurich newspaper reported on Friday that Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz would present last year’s financial results next…

Independent expert to investigate air crash

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 The move is designed to ascertain the exact role of Swiss air traffic control agency Skyguide in the accident, which took place in July 2002 over Lake Constance. Jens Gruhl, the public prosecutor for the German town of Constance, said on Thursday that the decision had been made in conjunction with his Swiss counterpart in…

Economists raise concerns over deregulation

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 But experts are warning that, if it is not done properly, market deregulation might end up doing more harm than good. Those were two of the key findings of a workshop in Zurich, “Incentive Regulation in Network Industries”, which brought together leading businessmen, academics and government representatives. “Network” industries are industries such as telecoms, electricity…

Dental implant giant shows its financial teeth

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 The firm, which reported just one week before its major international rival – Basel-based Straumann – said on Thursday that it aimed for even better results in 2005. Investors flocked to market as the Swedish-Swiss company released its annual results, driving the share price up by nearly 12 per cent in trading on Thursday. One…

Smaller firms call for opening of Swiss economy

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 SMEs – those with up to 250 employees – form the backbone of the national economy and account for well over two-thirds of the workforce in Switzerland. “The existence of Switzerland depends, as a small open economy, on a free market and on not clashing with other countries, in particular the EU,” said Edi Engelberger,…

The “forgotten backbone” of the Swiss economy

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 The public authorities have also tended to neglect Switzerland’s real financial “backbone” – the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up the majority of the national economy. SMEs in Switzerland – those with up to 250 employees – represent 99.7 per cent of the country’s 300,000 companies and account for well over two-thirds of…

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Experts call for reform of federalism

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Carnival reaches highpoint in Basel

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Red tape hinders poverty alleviation

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Parties discuss youth jobless measures

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Federal deficit set to shrink by half

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Independent expert to investigate air crash

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Economists raise concerns over deregulation

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Dental implant giant shows its financial teeth

More

Smaller firms call for opening of Swiss economy

More

The “forgotten backbone” of the Swiss economy

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