This report is an indispensable reference guide to Switzerland, putting key facts and figures, political and economic information at your fingertips, without having to trawl through other books and websites. And it's not just dry data: the report combines key economic indicators with our expert analysis to bring you the most comprehensive overview of the Swiss market.
 

 
Through a unique combination of macroeconomic and market data, this country profile gives you quick access to country data points, trends and analysis including:
 

 
the country's political and government make-up
 

 
the country's economic performance and GDP
 

 
the potential for development
 

 
detailed market and industry analysis of the country's business environment
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 8
 
1.1 What is this report about? 8
 
1.2 Who is the target reader? 8
 
1.3 How to use this report 8
 
CHAPTER 2 Key Facts & Overview 10
 
2.1 Key Facts 10
 
2.2 Overview 11
 
CHAPTER 3 Politics & Government 13
 
3.1 Summary 13
 
3.2 Elections and Goverment Make-up 13
 
3.3 Policy and Business 15
 
3.4 External Relations 16
 
CHAPTER 4 Economy 17
 
4.1 Summary 17
 
4.2 Economic Performance 17
 
4.3 Major Trading Partners 19
 
4.4 Major Issues 19
 
4.5 Prospects 20
 
CHAPTER 5 Macroeconomic Data 21
 
5.1 GDP 21
 
5.2 Population by age and gender 27
 
5.3 Consumer Price Index 29
 
5.4 Exchange rate 30
 
5.5 Employment 31
 
5.6 Unemployment 32
 
5.7 Working hours 34
 
5.8 Part-time employment 35
 
5.9 Working women 37
 

 
LIST OF TABLES
 
Table 1: Switzerland real GDP (SFr billion), 1998-2003 21
 
Table 2: Switzerland's real GDP forecast (SFr billion), 2003-2008 22
 
Table 3: Switzerland's real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 23
 
Table 4: Switzerland's real GDP forecast (US$ billion), 2003-2008 24
 
Table 5: Swiss population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 27
 
Table 6: Consumer Price Index inflation in Switzerland compared to Eurozone benchmark, 1998-2003 29
 
Table 7: Exchange rate, SFR-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 30
 
Table 8: Switzerland's employed population (thousands), 1990-2003 31
 
Table 9: Switzerland's unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 32
 
Table 10: Percentage of Swiss labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 33
 
Table 11: Switzerland's average working hours per week, 1990-2002 34
 
Table 12: Part time employment in Switzerland, thousands, 1991-2002 35
 
Table 13: Percentage of Switzerland's employed population in part time work, 1991-2002 36
 
Table 14: Number of working women in Switzerland (thousands), 1990-2003 37
 
Table 15: Percentage of Switzerland's employed population that is female, compared to Eurozone, 1992-2003 38
 

 

 

 
LIST OF CHARTS
 
Figure 1: Switzerland's real GDP (SFr billion), 1998-2003 21
 
Figure 2: Switzerland's real GDP forecast (SFr billion), 2003-2008 22
 
Figure 3: Switzerland's real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 23
 
Figure 4: Switzerland's real GDP forecast (US$ billion), 2003-2008 24
 
Figure 5: Per capita GDP and growth rates in Switzerland compared to major Eurozone nations 26
 
Figure 6: Swiss population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 28
 
Figure 7: Consumer Price Index inflation in Switzerland compared to Eurozone benchmark, 1998-2003 29
 
Figure 8: Exchange rate, SFR-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 30
 
Figure 9: Switzerland's employed population (millions), 1990-2003 31
 
Figure 10: Switzerland's unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 32
 
Figure 11: Percentage of Swiss labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 33
 
Figure 12: Switzerland's average working hours per week, 1990-2002 34
 
Figure 13: Part time employment in Switzerland, thousands, 1991-2002 35
 
Figure 14: Percentage of Switzerland's employed population in part time work, 1991-2002 36
 
Figure 15: Number of working women in Switzerland (millions), 1990-2003 37
 
Figure 16: Percentage of Switzerland's employed population that is female, compared to Eurozone, 1992-2003 38