No. 152, June

Swiss companies’ business continued to improve in May. The Business Situation Indicator has thus been rising steadily since the beginning of the year (see G 6). Although the indicator has not yet returned to its pre-crisis level, this landmark is within sight. The Swiss economy is increasingly picking up speed. One growing problem, however, is the availability of intermediate products.

A webinar entitled ‘KOF Beyond the Borders’ saw representatives from academia and the media discuss Brexit and the question of what lessons can be learned from the UK’s experience that could be applied to Switzerland.

Two major sporting events are on the agenda this year: the European Football Championships and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The sporting organisations behind them, UEFA and the IOC, both have their headquarters in Switzerland. Consequently, these competitions also have an indirect economic impact on Switzerland's gross domestic product.

Reality for much of the year so far during the coronavirus crisis has consisted of lockdowns, working from home and living a dreary everyday existence while stock markets have kept hitting new highs. However, there are academic explanations for this apparent contradiction.