Economic Overview
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Switzerland Economy Profile
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/economy_profile.html
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland’s economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production.
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Switzerland – Economic forecast
http://www.oecd.org/economy/switzerland-economic-forecast-summary.htm
The economy has weakened thus far in 2015, but growth is projected to rise gradually into 2016 as the recent large exchange rate appreciation is absorbed.
Industry Trends & Business Climate
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Switzerland Economy
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/switzerland
Economic ranking of Switzerland
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Swiss continue to lag on ‘business climate’ issues
http://www.thelocal.ch/20151028/doing-b
The Swiss rank 26th in the bank’s Doing Business 2016 study of 189 countries, putting it well behind other countries when it comes to a regulatory environment conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm.
Establishing a Presence
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Business Types – Types of Businesses in Switzerland
http://geneva.angloinfo.com/information/working/starting-a-business/types-of-businesses/
In Switzerland there are two basic types of business formation – partnerships and capital companies. Both of these basic types offer various legal entities to choose from according to the needs of the business.
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Business Types – Switzerland: Company types in Switzerland
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Switzerland/Articles/Business/Company-types-in-Switzerland
The most common types of company are the public limited company, Ltd (AG), the limited liability company, LLC (GmbH), the general partnership, and the sole enterprise. This summary provides you with an overview of these four company types.
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Business Registration Requirements – Starting a Business in Switzerland
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/switzerland/starting-a-business/
This site from the World Bank provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Switzerland.
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Business Registration Requirements – Register a Swiss Company
http://www.companyformationswitzerland.com/register-swiss-company
Company registration in Switzerland is preceded by a meeting of the shareholders in front of a public notary. After that, an application form is completed and submitted to the office of the Commercial Register in the district of its domicile.
Taxes
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VAT – Value Added Tax in Switzerland
https://www.ch.ch/en/vat-rates-switzerland/
A VAT rate of 8% applies to most goods and services. A reduced rate of 2.5% applies to certain everyday consumer goods such as foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, books, newspapers, magazines, medicines, but also to tickets for sports and cultural events.
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Personal – Switzerland – Taxes on personal income
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/Switzerland-Individual-Taxes-on-personal-income
All tax-resident individuals are taxed on their worldwide income and wealth. Non tax-resident individuals are only taxed on Swiss sources of income and wealth.
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VAT – Switzerland Sales Tax Rate | VAT
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/switzerland/sales-tax-rate
The Sales Tax Rate in Switzerland stands at 8 percent. Sales Tax Rate in Switzerland averaged 7.80 percent from 2006 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 8 percent in 2011 and a record low of 7.60 percent in 2007. Sales Tax Rate in Switzerland is reported by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.
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taxes in Switzerland
http://www.myscience.ch/living/taxes
Taxes and other duties are levied on three levels: the Confederation, the 26 cantons and the some 3,000 municipalities, reflecting the federalist State structure of the Swiss Confederation. Each canton has its own tax legislation and taxes as it sees fit the income and assets of individuals, the profits and capital of legal entities, inheritances and donations, property gains, etc.
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Corporate – Switzerland Corporate Tax Rate
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/switzerland/corporate-tax-rate
The Corporate Tax Rate in Switzerland stands at 17.92 percent. Corporate Tax Rate in Switzerland averaged 18.90 percent from 2006 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 21.23 percent in 2006 and a record low of 17.92 percent in 2014. Corporate Tax Rate in Switzerland is reported by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.
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Corporate – Switzerland – Taxes on corporate income
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/Switzerland-Corporate-Taxes-on-corporate-income
Resident companies are subject to Swiss corporate income tax (CIT) on their taxable profits generated in Switzerland. CIT is levied at the federal, cantonal, and communal level.
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Personal – Switzerland Personal Income Tax Rate
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/switzerland/personal-income-tax-rate
The Personal Income Tax Rate in Switzerland stands at 40 percent. Personal Income Tax Rate in Switzerland averaged 40.15 percent from 2004 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 40.40 percent in 2005 and a record low of 40 percent in 2008. Personal Income Tax Rate in Switzerland is reported by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.
Visas
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Switzerland – US Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/switzerland-and-liechtenstein.html
Information from the US Department of State – US Embassy in Bern. See Entry, Exit and & Visa Requirements
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Switzerland Visa: Application, Requirements
https://switzerland.visahq.com/
This site provides a link to visa application forms
Infrastructure
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Swiss Travel System
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/home.html
Switzerland by train, bus and boat. Enjoy stress-free travel by road, rail and waterway throughout Switzerland – with the Swiss Travel System.
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Transport in Switzerland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Switzerland
Being in the centre of Europe, Switzerland has a dense network of roads and railways. The Swiss public transport network has a total length of 24,500 kilometres and comprises more than 26,000 stations and stops.
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Switzerland Guide: Introduction, The Swiss telecommunication
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Switzerland/Switzerland-Guide/Telephone-Internet/Introduction
Switzerland has one of the highest numbers of phone lines per capita, nearly every household has one.
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Switzerland – Key Statistics, Telecom Market
http://www.budde.com.au/Research/Switzerland-Key-Statistics-Telecom-Market-and-Regulatory-Overviews.html
Switzerland enjoys one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the OECD and a competitive mobile market served by a triopoly of international players.
Employer Obligations
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Swiss Employment Law
http://www.cms-vep.com/Hubbard.FileSystem/files/Publication/39aacb5d-7a6d-4241-8036-3826bc60b543/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/ebc9a822-c335-45de-8529-389830930601/CMS_Arbeitsrecht_January%202011.pdf
Switzerland follows the Continental European tradition. This is a different legal basis for employment relationships of government personnel and those of private employees.
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Unemployment Benefits in Switzerland
http://geneva.angloinfo.com/information/working/unemployment/
All employees in Switzerland must pay unemployment insurance. Half of this is paid by the employer and the other half by the employee.
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Switzerland Guide: Unemployment insurance
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Switzerland/Switzerland-Guide/Jobs/Unemployment-insurance
All employees in Switzerland who have not yet reached the legal retirement age must be covered by unemployment insurance. Half of the contribution is paid by the employee and the other half by the employer.
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Information on Employment Law
http://www.employment-law.ch/
This website contains basic information about employment law in Switzerland.
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National labour law profile: The Swiss Confederation
http://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/national-labour-law-profiles/WCMS_158921/lang--en/index.htm
See “Labour law in the Constitution”
Culture/Living
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Cost of Living in Switzerland
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Switzerland
This site includes indices on living costs including rent, utilities transportation, clothing, and food
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Cost of Living in Switzerland | Expat Arrivals
http://search.aol.com/aol/search?enabled_terms=&s_it=client97_searchbox&q=Switzerland+-+cost+of+living
Switzerland is almost as famous for its high cost of living as it is for its ski slopes. Three Swiss cities featured in the 2014 Mercer Cost of Living Survey’s top ten –Geneva, Zurich and Bern – and rural areas aren’t necessarily that much cheaper.
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Business Etiquette – Ten tips for Swiss business etiquette
http://www.thelocal.ch/20150707/ten-tips-for-swiss-business-etiquette
The dos and don’ts of business etiquette in Switzerland
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Business Etiquette – Doing Business in Switzerland | etiquette
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing-business-switzerland.html
This site offers some introductory points on areas such as business culture and etiquette.
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Education in Switzerland
http://www.about.ch/education/index.html
Since Switzerland has no natural resources, education and knowledge have become very important resources. Therefore Switzerland claims to have one of the world’s best education systems.
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Holidays and observances in Switzerland
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/switzerland/
A complete listing of holidays in Switzerland for 2015. There is one national holiday (Swiss National Day – August 1) but several local holidays that are widely observed
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Holidays in Switzerland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Switzerland
The 26 cantons that make up Switzerland set their public holidays independently — with the exception of August 1,]which is the only federal holiday.
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Demographics – Switzerland Demographics Profile
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/demographics_profile.html
Demographic profile for 2014
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Demographics – Switzerland Facts | Government, Economy, Demographics
http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/180/Switzerland
Demographic facts and data
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Climate of the World: Switzerland
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Switzerland.htm
Switzerland is located within a temperate climatic zone. In the west and northwest the influence of the temperate Atlantic climate is felt more strongly, in the east the influence of the continental climate. At a latitude of 47 North, the climate is moderate and generally agreeable.
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Climate – Swiss university – Climate of Switzerland
http://www.studyinginswitzerland.ch/country-climate.htm
The climate of Switzerland is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The westerly winds transport the sea air to Switzerland and are responsible for the precipitation levels in the country. In addition, the cold and dry northern wind can make temperatures drop very quickly, but also contributes to the often clear skies.
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Safety – Switzerland – US Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/switzerland-and-liechtenstein.html
Switzerland remains largely free of terrorist incidents; however, like other countries in the Schengen area, Switzerland’s open borders with its Western European neighbors allow for the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country anonymously. You should remain vigilant with regard to your personal security.
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Education in Switzerland
http://www.expatica.com/ch/education/Education-in-Switzerland_100021.html
Education in Switzerland is a largely decentralised system. Each Swiss canton has its own independent education department. The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education is a united body of Swiss cantons aimed at standardising the system between all the schools in Switzerland.
Trade
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WTO | Switzerland
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/switzerland_e.htm
This site provides key information on Switzerland’s participation in the WTO. Switzerland has been a WTO member since 1 July 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 August 1966.
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SECO – List of Free Trade Agreements of Switzerland
http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00515/01330/04619/?lang=en
List of Free Trade Agreements of Switzerland
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Switzerland’s economic and trade relations with the EU are mainly governed through a series of bilateral agreements where Switzerland has agreed to take on certain aspects of EU legislation in exchange for accessing the EU’ssingle market.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/switzerland/
Switzerland’s economic and trade relations with the EU are mainly governed through a series of bilateral agreements where Switzerland has agreed to take on certain aspects of EU legislation in exchange for accessing the EU’ssingle market.
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Export.gov – Trade Regulations, Customs and Standards
http://export.gov/switzerland/doingbusinessinswitzerland/traderegulationscustomsandstandards/eg_ch_077162.asp
A guide to trade regulations, customs and standards in Switzerland
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Swiss Customs: Regulations, Export-Import
https://switzerland.visahq.com/customs/
Switzerland Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at Swiss border.
Housing and Rentals
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Hotels – Switzerland Tourism
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/accommodation.html
A guide to hotels, apartments, hostels and camp sites in Switzerland
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Tips on Accommodations in Switzerland
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/switzerland/798104
Information on hotels, apartments, B&Bs, private homes ansd hostels
Travel
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Switzerland Travel Guide | Fodor’s Travel
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/switzerland
A complete guide to travel in Switzerland
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Switzerland – Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/switzerland
Look past the silk-smooth chocolate, cuckoo clocks and yodelling – contemporary Switzerland, land of four languages, is all about epic journeys and sublime experiences.