2018

The KOF Business Situation Indicator for the Swiss Private Economy edged up slightly in November, recording the first gain after a consecutive three-month decline (see G 7). The current business situation among Swiss companies is thus predominantly positive and of a robust nature.

Is the high level of the skills mismatch in the United Kingdom comparable with the high level in Germany? The special analysis in the new release of the KOF Labour Market Index provides an answer to this. The investigation shows that there can be various causes for an identical Skills Mismatch Rate. In order to identify an appropriate way of dealing with a skills mismatch within given country, it is necessary to consider the individual components of the indicator.  

Healthcare spending is set to rise further in the coming years. However, the robust growth in nominal GDP as of 2018 will slow down the relative increase in healthcare expenditure compared to the gross domestic product. According to the KOF Forecast of Swiss Healthcare Expenditures, per capita spending will exceed CHF 10,000 a year. Furthermore, there will be a shift from inpatient to outpatient treatment.  

KOF has investigated investment activities in the Swiss economy in the period from 2014 to 2016 on behalf of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The survey was conducted among private companies in the industrial, construction and service sectors. It appears that innovation activities have become more difficult and costly for Swiss companies.

The KOF business situation is barely any different in October compared to the previous month. This means that the business situation of Swiss companies has not changed significantly since July of this year (See G 1). Optimism on the part of companies regarding future business trends has fallen back slightly. The Swiss economy is continuing to ride high, although with slightly less of a tail wind.

Is there any benefit for companies if other companies have foreign operations? A new KOF study suggests that “domestic companies” in Switzerland benefit from the R&D operations of other Swiss companies abroad, in relation specifically to both innovation and productivity.