Switzerland should do more to help older people, especially women, work longer in order to meet the challenge of a rapidly ageing population, according to a new OECD report.

This publication highlights new evidence on policies to support job creation, bringing together the latest research on labour market, entrepreneurship and local economic development policy to help governments support job creation in the recovery. It also includes a set of country pages featuring, among other things, new data on skills supply and demand at the level of smaller OECD regions (TL3).

Switzerland has today become the 52nd jurisdiction to sign the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement, which will allow it to go forward with plans to activate automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters with other countries beginning in 2018.

The tax burden in Switzerland increased by 0.2 percentage points from 26.9% to 27.1% in 2013. The OECD average was an increase of 0.4 percentage points from 33.7% to 34.1%. The Swiss standard VAT rate is 8%, which is one of the lowest standard VAT rates in the OECD and considerably below the OECD average. The average VAT/GST standard rate in the OECD was 19.1% on 1 January 2014

Going for Growth 2015: Key findings for Switzerland

Switzerland should reduce trade barriers and limit the level of direct payments to farmers, as part of wider efforts to improve competitiveness of the agriculture sector, according to a new OECD report.

Water resources allocation determines who is able to use water resources, how, when and where. Capturing information from 27 OECD countries and key partner economies, the report presents key findings from the OECD Survey of Water Resources Allocation and case studies of successful allocation reform.

Levels of alcohol consumption in Switzerland have decreased in the last 30 years, but are still above the OECD average. In 2012, an average of 9.9 litres of pure alcohol per capita is consumed in Switzerland, compared with an estimate of 9.1 litres in the OECD.

Die Gesundheitsausgaben in der Schweiz sind hoch und der Ausgabenanstieg hat sich in den letzten Jahren beschleunigt. Der Marktanteil von Generika in der Schweiz ist relativ gering; die verstärkte Förderung bei Verschreibung und Abgabe von Generika könnte den Anstieg bei den Arzneimittelausgaben verlangsamen.

The 2015 edition introduces more detailed analysis of participation in early childhood and tertiary levels of education. The report also examines first generation tertiary-educated adults’ educational and social mobility, labour market outcomes for recent graduates, and participation in employer-sponsored formal and/or non-formal education.

Switzerland’s recent economic performance has been impressive, but with growth now slowing new reforms will be necessary to maintain high levels of prosperity and ensure future well-being, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Switzerland.

This country note provides an environmental tax and carbon pricing profile for Switzerland. It shows environmentally related tax revenues, taxes on energy use and effective carbon rates.

This country note presents student performance in science, reading and mathematics, and measures equity in education in Switzerland. The interactive charts allow you to compare results with other countries participating in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Switzerland enjoys the joint second highest life expectancy at birth among OECD countries, achieved through a generously funded health system. Smoking and alcohol rates are slightly above the OECD average, but obesity rates are very low, with rates among adults only lower in Japan and Korea. While mandatory insurance is in place, high out-of-pocket spending impedes access to care.

The Swiss economy has shown considerable resilience to shocks, but economic growth remains slow, and per capita income levels still hover at levels attained before the global economic crisis. Further reforms are needed to restore productivity growth, boost incomes and ensure that today’s high living standards and levels of well-being are passed on to future generations, according to a new report from the OECD.

This note presents selected country highlights from the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017 with a specific focus on digital trends among all themes covered.

The OECD’s third Environmental Performance Review of Switzerland finds that despite being one of the greenest OECD countries in terms of energy supply, greenhouse gas emissions and domestic material consumption per unit of GDP, Switzerland urgently needs to address pressures on its biodiversity.

Key findings for Switzerland from the report "Pensions at a Glance 2017"

This paper analyses the reform of Switzerland’s agricultural policy framework, which reoriented subsidies to better target policy objectives, including for biodiversity; and outlines the process involved in designing and implementing the reform as well as its environmental and socio-economic impacts. The country study draws on the 2017 OECD report The Political Economy of Biodiversity Policy Reform.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has just completed a review of Switzerland's enforcement of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments. The Working Group welcomes the significant level of enforcement by the Federal Office of the Attorney General. Switzerland has cracked down on the bribery of foreign public officials in recent years.

This note presents marginal effective tax rates (METRs) that summarise the tax system’s impact on the incentives to make an additional investment in a particular type of savings. By comparing METRs on different types of household savings, we can gain insights into which assets or savings types receive the most favourable treatment from the tax system.

This country note for Switzerland provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The digital revolution, globalisation and demographic changes are transforming labour markets at a time when policy makers are also struggling with slow productivity and wage growth and high levels of income inequality. The new OECD Jobs Strategy provides a comprehensive framework and policy recommendations to help countries address these challenges.

This country note explains how Switzerland taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

Switzerland enjoys some of the highest per-capita GDP and living standards of OECD countries. Taking action now to prepare for a fast-ageing population will be key for the prosperity and well-being of future generations, according to a new OECD report.

Key findings for Switzerland from the report "Pensions at a Glance 2019"

The tax-to-GDP ratio in Switzerland decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 28.4% in 2017 to 27.9% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

This note presents selected findings based on the set of well-being indicators published in How's Life? 2020.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Switzerland increased by 0.1 percentage points from 22.2 in 2018 to 22.3 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Switzerland had the 33rd lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This publication reviews the labour market integration of immigrants and their children in three OECD countries (Austria, Norway and Switzerland) and provides country-specific recommendations. It also includes a summary chapter highlighting common challenges and policy responses. It is the third and last in a series which has covered eleven OECD countries.

Employment Rate in Switzerland increased to 81 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 80.40 percent in the third quarter of 2019. Employment Rate in Switzerland averaged 79.13 percent from 1996 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 81.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 and a record low of 76.90 percent in the second quarter of 1997. In Switzerland, the employment rate measures the number of people who have a job as a percentage of the working age population. This page provides - Switzerland Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Switzerland has become the 58th country to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters during a ceremony at the OECD.

Switzerland has today become the 52nd jurisdiction to sign the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement, which will allow it to go forward with plans to activate automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters with other countries beginning in 2018.

Switzerland, represented by Ambassador Ulrich Lehner , today deposited its instrument of ratification for the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters ("the Convention") in the presence of OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

Weapons Sales in Switzerland increased to 243 USD Million in 2018 from 184 USD Million in 2017. Weapons Sales in Switzerland averaged 284.78 USD Million from 1959 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 530 USD Million in 1962 and a record low of 18 USD Million in 1970. Weapons Sales are presented as a Trend-Indicator Value based on the known unit production costs of a core set of weapons such as aircraft, air defence systems, anti-submarine warfare weapons, armoured vehicles, artillery, engines, missiles, sensors, satellites, ships and others. The indicator aims to represent the transfer value of military resources rather than the financial value of the transfer.

Banks Balance Sheet in Switzerland increased to 2124644.57 CHF Million in February from 2116896.91 CHF Million in January of 2020. Banks Balance Sheet in Switzerland averaged 1168193.85 CHF Million from 1987 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2124644.57 CHF Million in February of 2020 and a record low of 595832 CHF Million in December of 1987. This page provides - Switzerland Banks Balance Sheet - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Switzerland recorded a government budget surplus of 8097 CHF Million in 2019. Government Budget Value in Switzerland averaged -400.15 CHF Million from 1980 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 11811 CHF Million in 2000 and a record low of -18357 CHF Million in 1993. The government budget balance is the difference between government revenues and expenses. The budget is balanced when outlays equal to receipts, the country reports budget surplus when revenues are higher than expenses and deficit when expenses exceed the revenues. This page provides - Switzerland Government Budget Value - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Phase 3 Report on Switzerland by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Switzerland 's implementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.

Housing Index in Switzerland decreased to 168.74 points in the first quarter of 2020 from 169.34 points in the fourth quarter of 2019. Housing Index in Switzerland averaged 105.83 points from 1970 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 169.34 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of 35.65 points in the first quarter of 1970. In Switzerland, housing index refers to Residential House Price Index of single-family homes. This page provides - Switzerland House Price Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

An overview of the long-term care situation in Switzerland is available here.

The Swiss health system is one of the world’s best but must adapt to deal with rising costs and higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a new OECD/WHO report.

Switzerland needs to do more to help people with mental disorders find a job or stay in work, according to a new OECD report.

The number of employed persons in Switzerland increased to 5107 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 5090 Thousand in the third quarter of 2019. Employed Persons in Switzerland averaged 4078.60 Thousand from 1975 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 5107 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of 3242 Thousand in the third quarter of 1976. In Switzerland, employed persons are individuals with a minimum required age who work during a certain time for a business. This page provides - Switzerland Employed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This publication reviews the labour market integration of immigrants and their children in three OECD countries (Austria, Norway and Switzerland) and provides country-specific recommendations. It also includes a summary chapter highlighting common challenges and policy responses. It is the third and last in a series which has covered eleven OECD countries.

Imports from Switzerland in Turkey increased to 121.49 USD Million in March from 106.67 USD Million in February of 2020. Imports from Switzerland in Turkey averaged 125.59 USD Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 183.72 USD Million in April of 2014 and a record low of 81.01 USD Million in January of 2017. This page includes a chart with historical data for Turkey Imports from Switzerland.

This note is taken from Chapter 2 of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2011.

This note is taken from Chapter 2 of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2012.

This paper examines the heavily supported Swiss food and agriculture sector. It reviews some of the key features and trends in the sector and reveals its low relative labour productivity in international comparison.

Switzerland’s recent economic performance has been impressive, but with growth now slowing new reforms will be necessary to maintain high levels of prosperity and ensure future well-being, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Switzerland.

High house prices are being supported by very low interest rates, immigration-fuelled population growth and smaller family units, while demand is being bolstered by mortgage interest tax deductibility and institutional investors.