Nr. 163, June

What sorts of firms have dropped out of R&D (research and development) and what consequences does this have for Switzerland’s economy? These questions are addressed both by the author and by the authors of the study ‘What Makes Firms Stop Doing R&D in Switzerland?’. This article focuses on the results of the first question: what types of companies have dropped out of R&D?

After rising sharply in the previous month, the KOF Business Situation Indicator almost managed to maintain its high level in May, falling just slightly (see Chart G 8). Although companies’ business expectations for the near future are still well above average, they are no longer as optimistic as they were in the autumn of last year. The Swiss economy is in good shape, and its momentum is likely to slow in an orderly fashion.

In his book ‘False Feedback in Economics’, KOF economist Andrin Spescha critically examines the methodological and philosophical foundations of economics and other social sciences.

The world is growing older. According to the World Bank, the percentage of the global population aged 65 and above nearly doubled from 1960 to 2020. While developed countries are struggling with the consequences of population ageing, less-developed countries still stand to benefit. But how could population ageing spur economic growth in less-developed countries, and how can policymakers maximise its benefits?