No. 132, September  

The KOF Business Situation Indicator shows a generally stable Swiss economy in August (see G 4). The business situation was essentially unchanged from the previous month. However, it is clearly less favourable than it was in August of last year. The Swiss economy is less dynamic at the moment, although is not slowing any further.   

What influence does the economy have on income distribution? Are there still any differences in terms of gender equality, and what are their potential consequences, for instance for pensions? How can we ensure that the gates to the labour market remain open to all, despite digitalisation and automation? These are the core questions that will be considered by the KOF Forecast Day on 2 October.  

The effects of taxes on corporate investment are strikingly heterogeneous. This article shows that the effects differ significantly when it comes to entrepreneur-led businesses and manager-led businesses. The impact of dividend taxes on companies also varies.  

Vocational education and training (VET) is designed to prepare adolescents for direct entry into professional life. The social institutions which steer the actions, roles and relations between the various VET actors are of particular importance in this context. However, there is little scientific knowledge of how such institutions can be compared internationally and how their robustness can be evaluated. Now a new study provides answers to these questions.  

Swiss policy-makers are currently debating a raft of measures designed to adjust the country’s climate policy. Among other factors, the behaviour of enterprises plays an important role in this context. KOF studies have shown that the impact of energy policy measures on companies depends to a large extent on the prices of new energy technologies and on energy costs.