Handbook for Investors. Business location in Switzerland.

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9.5 Capital costs and interest. Switzerland is one of the most economically and politically stable countries in the world and is known as a safe haven. The country is in a healthy financial situation. This applies to the finances of the central state – at federal level – as well as the cantons and municipalities. The budget deficit of 1 % of GDP is significantly below the average of EU and OECD member countries. Total public sector debt (federal, cantonal and municipal) amounts to 44 % of GDP. By comparison with the OECD, from a government debt perspective only, Switzerland’s debt ratio is in the middle range. Some European countries and the US have higher ratios, while only Norway, Luxembourg and Ireland have much lower levels. Consequently, Switzerland remains one of the least indebted countries in Europe. Fig. 45: Credit rating: the ten safest countries Rank Country Number of points (maximum = 100) 1 Luxembourg 99.88 2 Norway 97.47 3 Switzerland 96.21 4 Denmark 93.39 5 Sweden 92.96 6 Ireland 92.36 7 Austria 92.25 8 Finland 91.95 9 Netherlands 91.95 10 US 91.27 Fig. 46: Capital costs, 2009 1 = hinders economic growth, 10 = promotes economic growth 1 Switzerland 6.69 2 Japan 6.30 3 Sweden 6.13 4 Malaysia 5.88 5 Hong Kong SAR 5.63 10 Belgium 5.29 11 Singapore 5.29 13 Ireland 5.15 14 Netherlands 5.12 17 Denmark 4.99 18 Luxembourg 4.98 20 Germany 4.88 21 USA 4.88 22 Italy 4.87 27 France 4.72 34 UK 4.15 38 India 3.93 43 People’s Republic of China 3.65 50 Russia 2.70 56 Brazil 1.85 Source: 2009 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook Source: Euromoney, www.euromoney.com, March 2008 High credit quality, together with the high savings rate and large inflows of foreign money, lead to low interest rates, meaning that financing conditions for business and investment are comparatively favorable. In recent years, the average spread in the money market and capital market interest rates in Swiss francs and euros has ranged between 1.5 % and 2 %. Interest rates and terms may vary widely depending on the creditworthiness of the client. 88 Handbook for Investors 2010
9.6 Inflation. Switzerland has always lived up to its reputation as a stable country. The rate of inflation, as measured using the Swiss consumer price index, has consistently remained well below those of the EU and the major industrialized nations in recent years. Fig. 47: Inflation 40 % 35 % 30 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 World Major advanced economies (G7) European Union ASEAN-5 Switzerland Source: IMF WEO Report, October 2008 Swiss consumer price index Swiss Federal Finance Administration www.LIK.bfs.admin.ch Languages: German, French, Italian www.efv.admin.ch Languages: German, English, French, Italian Handbook for Investors 2010 89
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Handbook for Investors. Business lo
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Welcome. Dear Reader, By choosing t
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Table of contents. Advantages offer
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10.3.4 Cross-border commuters .....
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9. Excellent educational institutio
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1.2 Climate. Switzerland’s climat
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Despite the close proximity of diff
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1.7.2 Direct investments and Swiss
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1.8 Switzerland in figures. Fig. 7:
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Fig. 9: Industry structure, percent
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2.2.2 Direct investments In additio
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The medical technology industry is
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Dachorganisation Informatik- und Te
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3. Economic framework. Free competi
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Customs information www.zoll.admin.
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Swiss Federal Institute of Intellec
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In the main, Swiss product liabilit
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3.5.2 Environment Swiss environment
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15.2 Table of figures. Fig. 1: Swit
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Countries of Europe. Handbook for I
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Language regions. Handbook for Inve
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