Researchers at the annual conference of the Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES) discussed the latest societal challenges from an economic perspective – from climate change and trade disputes to the spread of artificial intelligence.
Participants from over 50 universities and institutions travelled to Zurich in June to take part in the annual conference of the Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics. This conference is regarded as the most important and prestigious meeting of academic economists in Switzerland. The event was held at ETH Zurich for the first time in exactly 20 years and was organised by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute.
Broad spectrum ranging from macroeconomics to microeconomics
The theme of this year’s conference was ‘New Designs for the Market Economy’. In addition to keynote speeches by Gianmarco Ottaviano (Bocconi University), Evi Pappa (Carlos III University of Madrid) and Reinhilde Veugelers (KU Leuven), parallel lectures and workshops were held covering the entire spectrum of macro- and microeconomics. A joint supporting programme rounded off the conference.
Economic responses to societal challenges
The economists discussed their approaches to numerous economic and societal challenges such as climate change, trade disputes, the spread of artificial intelligence, the design of the banking and financial system, monetary policy and demographic change. In addition to these application-related questions, several sessions also dealt with the latest methodological issues in economic research.
Award for journalist Mathilde Farine
One highlight – apart from the economic dialogue – was the presentation of awards by the SSES. Mathilde Farine (RTS) received the Economic Journalism Award 2025 for her outstanding reporting on economic, financial and monetary policy in Switzerland. She is the first woman and the first French-speaking person to receive this award.
The SSES Young Talent Award 2025 went to Marcel Caesmann (University of Zurich), Janis Goldzycher (University of Zurich), Matteo Grigoletto (University of Bern) and Lorenz Gschwent (University of Duisburg-Essen) for their work entitled ‘Censorship in Democracy’, which they presented at the SSES conference.
The Best Paper Award 2025 went to Brendan Berthold (University of Lausanne) for his paper entitled ‘The Macro-Financial Effects of Climate Policy Risk: Evidence from Switzerland’, which was published in Volume 160 of the Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics.
The SSES
The Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES) was founded in 1864 and is the association of Swiss economists. Its aim is to promote and advance economic research in Switzerland and to improve cooperation between members of the domestic and international research communities. Special emphasis is placed on encouraging young economists. The SSES publishes a peer-reviewed journal (the Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics).
Contact
KOF Bereich Zentrale Dienste
Leonhardstrasse 21
8092
Zürich
Switzerland