The Swiss Banking Sector and the Takeover of Credit Suisse

After the share price of Credit Suisse fell sharply in the past few months and clients increasingly withdrew their deposits and assets from the bank, Credit Suisse was on the verge of illiquidity. On 19 March 2023, the Swiss government, the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, UBS and Credit Suisse announced the emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS. The economic consequences of the collapse of Credit Suisse and the state of the Swiss banking sector are currently under public discussion. Was the takeover by UBS the best solution? How will the takeover affect the international reputation of the Swiss banking centre?

To make the views of research economists in academia on the topic visible to the public, the KOF, together with the external pageNeue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), conducted in March 2023 a short survey.

KOF contacted 863 economists for the survey. We received responses from 167 economists from 19 institutions.

Results

1. In your opinion, which measure should have been best implemented in the crisis situation at Credit Suisse on the weekend of 18/19 March 2023?

2. In your opinion, what is the overall impact of the Credit Suisse crisis and the solution by the involved Swiss institutions (government, SNB, FINMA, CS and UBS) on the international reputation of the Swiss financial centre? The international reputation of the Swiss financial centre has

3. In your opinion, how does the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS affect the following aspects?

Access to credit by Swiss firms and private persons

Stability of the Swiss banking sector

Quality of services offered by the Swiss banking sector

Cost efficiency of the Swiss banking sector

4. From UBS's point of view, do you think the Credit Suisse takeover is more of a good deal or a bad deal? Overall, the takeover is for the UBS

About this survey

KOF is acting as a mediator between academic researchers and the public. It aims to make the voices of research economists heard. KOF categorises economic researchers as those from Swiss research institutions who have published scientifically.

The survey was conducted together with the external pageNeuen Zürcher Zeitung.

The press release can be found here. external pageThe NZZ article (in German) can be found here.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Hans Gersbach

Co-director of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute

Phone +41 44 632 82 80

Zürichbergstrasse 18
8092 Zürich
Switzerland

Dr. Klaus Abberger

KOF Konjunkturforschungsstelle
Leonhardstrasse 21
8092 Zürich
Switzerland