Switzerland… the country known for its obsession with precision and quality, and a fabled knack for making chocolate and luxurious watches.
While Swiss people don’t flaunt their wealth, the country is often in the economic news as one of the richest in the world, and with one of the highest GDP per capita of over $80,000.
There is more to Switzerland than luxury watch brands like Rolex, Richard Mille, and premium chocolate brands like Lindt and Toblerone.
The country’s geographical location is probably the worst in terms of factors contributing to economic success. It is often referred to as a ‘landlocked’ country, which means it has no direct access to trade routes or sea. The country also has little in terms of natural resources like oil, gas, coal, etc. The country also has a terrain unfit for building an inexpensive infrastructure.
And the country also does not have any cheap labor to capitalize on. But, how did Switzerland become so rich despite all these disadvantages?
Và đất nước này cũng không có lao động giá rẻ để tận dụng. Nhưng, làm thế nào mà Thụy Sĩ trở nên giàu có bất chấp mọi bất lợi kể trên?
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It has something that is one of the most important factor when it comes to business and trade, and anything that involves an exchange of money. It has TRUST!
Whether it comes to the high-value services, or, trains roaming in the high altitudes carrying tourists, or, exports of pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, or, its notorious banks protecting your hard-earned or not so hard-earned money, Switzerland, offers trust like no other, making itself a financial powerhouse and earning itself as a stellar reputation in International Finance.
Post World War II & Nazi Gold
The claims that Switzerland was wealthy by the beginning of the 20th century, lacks credibility! The Swiss economy started to take off some time around World War 2. While other countries in Europe had suffered total collapse due to the war, Switzerland’s economy began to bloom!
The country’s decision to remain neutral in war played a major role in economic success. World War II was a time of chaos and Switzerland used this chaos for its benefit. While some people would bring morality to this topic by saying that everyone should follow Switzerland’s stance when it comes to wars. But, one should realize that every country can be sucked into a war. And, Switzerland was in the war too, BUT, in a different way.
The script was simple. We are not going to the war and kill people. But, if you want to kill people, we would provide you with weapons. And while you are busy killing each other and you want your wealth to be stored at a safe place, we offer the best services. In short, Switzerland’s role to not directly indulge in the war was more of an economic decision than a moral one.
Nazis did not steal only from Jews, but from everyone, and they stored it in the Swiss banks. Many rich jews and other wealthy people stored their money in Swiss Banks too.
The germans also sold the looted gold to the Swiss to get the Swiss Franc to fight against the enemy territories. The Swiss Franc was used to buy steel from the Nordic countries. The Swiss banks knew about how the gold was obtained but they didn’t object.
You can say Switzerland isn’t pure, BUT, tell us a country that is? Years later, those bank accounts were forgotten and no one came to claim them. It also became really hard for anyone else to withdraw that money once the original owner passed away.
How much it contributed to Switzerland’s economic success stays a controversial topic and no conclusion can be reached with consensus.
Swiss Economy
With 12 Kgs of chocolate eaten per person per year, more than 450 varieties of cheese, more than 250 varieties of grapevine, and more than 200 types of bread baked, Swiss usually prefer products made in their own country, choosing better quality over cheap imports.
Knowing how to use their resources well and being aware of their disadvantages, Swiss understand their economic success is tied to the value-added services. That pushes them to focus more on creating high skilled labor and investment in their people. This creates a culture of industriousness and companies like Nestle, ABB, Novartis, Roche, Buhler, Novartis, Schindler, Swatch, etc. are proof of it.
Investing in the education system and research programs is of prime importance. Switzerland is one of the top countries that invest most in the R&D. It also holds the most number of patents per capita. With one of the highest average national IQ of 102, the country produced 27 Noble prize winners, which are also one of the highest per capita.
While ‘Made in China’ makes you think of products that can’t last long, ‘Swiss Made’ is associated with products that are of high quality and durability carved with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Switzerland also does well for itself in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Agricultural produce like wheat, sugar, dairy products, wine, to mention a few, are actively cultivated for domestic consumption and exportation.
Switzerland’s economy benefits from its political stability. People in Switzerland trust the government probably because they have a say in public policies including the amount of taxes they pay.
Unlike other countries, a new administration doesn’t come with an intent to abolish everything the outgoing administration has put in place. Presidents are not flaunted around like a king, instead, an inner council is responsible to bring forward a new mostly ceremonial president every year. This makes it easier to follow the long-term plans and see them get carried through.
While the Direct-Democracy approach has nationalistic tendencies, that can be seen from people’s behavior toward immigrants. However, it seems to work fine for countries with a small population like Switzerland. The direct democracy approach makes it harder for the Swiss government to waste money that doesn’t benefit the people directly. It also stops elites from hijacking the government policies for their benefits against the public interests.
Not only do projects and policies require a consensus among political representatives, but they also have to go through the people’s approval in the form of referendums.
And Swiss people go through a lot of referendums. A small population of over 8.5 million spread across the country is easier to manage. Due to the high amount of wealth coming in the banks of Switzerland, they can easily give loans to their citizens, which means a strong domestic market.
Beautiful mountains and lakes, and some tourism infrastructure, makes Switzerland cash an estimated 2.6% of the country’s GDP through tourism.
Swiss people are very conservative when it comes to fiscal policies. They will vote for increments in taxes instead of the government taking more loans. However, taxes are relatively low in Switzerland compared to other Western European countries.
The labor is not cheap, the Swiss work long hours compared to other European countries. The country has a low unemployment rate and a culture of emphasis on working hard. While salaries are very lavish by most measures, so is the cost of living.
Switzerland did a good job of staying out of the European Union without being affected by their decision. Low skilled labor can be attracted from Eastern European countries. High skilled labor is attracted from neighboring countries like Italy, Austria, France, and Germany. Swiss profit from the economically strong neighbors by exporting them goods without being affected by anything happening in the European Union.
Other than policing each other, the Swiss are a peaceful nation which is obvious from the fact that they don’t use their guns even though many choose to keep their rifles at the end of their compulsory military service.
Swiss also have a culture towards saving money. One reason for this saving culture comes from the sort of welfare system Switzerland is running and employment protection not being one of the best. That forces people to adapt to more savings.
Also, Switzerland was not always a rich country. And the previous generations coming from poverty in a tough climate and terrain were always careful with how they spend their money. Low consumer spending is still a culture in the country.
In short, Swiss people have a culture of “Work Hard, Spend Little, And Save a Lot”
Swiss Banks
The topic of Switzerland’s economy is incomplete without talking about its banks. Swiss Banks are notorious for their Banking Secrecy principles. For this sole reason, a considerable amount of money allegedly finds its way into the vaults of Swiss Banks. That’s why Switzerland is referred to as a Tax Haven in popular literature, all thanks to the Hollywood movies mentioning it now and then. The country has no natural resources but their banks are their mines!
Banking secrecy in the region can be traced back to the Great Council of Geneva, which created a law against the disclosure of information back in 1713. While the law was created to protect certain individuals and groups of that time, the reputation of Swiss banking secrecy grew more and more.
While other European countries began to heavily charge taxes to facilitate the process of their contribution to World War I, Swiss bankers were on a campaign in France, capitalizing on wealthy people’s fear of losing money by offering them secrecy in the time of crisis.
Disclosing the client information was already a civil offense in the region for centuries, the Swiss Federal Assembly went on even further making it a federal criminal offense in 1934 with landmark legislation, also known as Federal Act on Banks.
The strong currency, declaration to remain neutral in World War II, and history of being a safe-heaven for wealth, contributed significantly for it to become more trustable in the time of crisis and years later.
The country has received significant criticism for serving as a safe-haven for the wealth of dictators, despots, mobsters, arms dealers, corrupt officials, and tax frauds of all kinds.
The script is very simple. You are in court in your home country for money laundering, your wealth is safe in Swiss Banks. You are arrested in your home country for shady business practices, your wealth stays safe in Swiss Banks. You die, well, then it stays safe forever in Swiss Banks. The truth is, everyone wants to raise finger at the Swiss banking industry until their own wealth is involved.
Switzerland’s banking industry played a major role in the Swiss economy. The banking system contributed significantly to the money that was invested within the country, from education to health care etc.
The Swiss Bankers Association in 2018 gave an estimate, indicating that Swiss banks held US$6.5 Trillion in assets or 25% of all global cross-border assets. In 2020, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) reported that Total Banking Assets in Switzerland account for 500% of the country’s total GDP.
There have been claims that the entire banking industry has been changed for Switzerland, and for shady money practices you have to look for another place like Cayman Islands, they also claim that the wealthy continue to work with Swiss banks like UBS AG and Credit Suisse Group AG, due to their experience and expertise in the banking industry and the quality of advice and service they provide.
There has been an international push to rollback the banking secrecy in recent times. Switzerland did go to sign some agreements and it seemed like the banking secrecy no longer exists, popularized in the headlines by some excitable news reports, the truth is the banking secrecy remains intact.
Swiss banks make sure that there is a difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion and both are not mixed. Under Swiss law, an external authority that seeks to gain access to the confidential Banking information of a client in a Swiss Bank must be ready to satisfy certain strenuous conditions.
Most of these external authorities don’t like the high standard they have to scale before accessing banking information about their citizen in Swiss Banks. In 2018, Transparency International ranked Switzerland as the third least corrupt country in the world. But, its banking sector is a different story as it was rated the most corrupt in the world due to strong secrecy laws and a large offshore banking industry allowing money laundering and hiding shady money.
Conclusion
The Swiss economic model cannot be duplicated in other countries as it would not work the way it works in Switzerland. In fact, It is not easy for other countries to stay neutral in wars. It’s not easy for other countries to have a terrain that is comparatively less invade-able. It’s not easy for other countries to provide the sort of trust that Switzerland provides.
It’s not easy to give big loans to its citizens. But if you have to learn anything out of it, there could be two lessons. 1) TRUST is the key element to any sort of business, financial deal, or anything that involves an exchange of money. 2) The second lesson is what you can learn directly from the people of Switzerland: “Work Hard, Spend Little, And Save a Lot”
WORD BANK
obsession /əbˈseʃ.ən/ [B2] (n): sự chú trọng, nỗi ám ảnh
precision /prɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (n): sự chính xác
fabled /ˈfeɪ.bəld/ (adj): huyền thoại
knack for sth /næk/ (n): có sở trường về cái gì
luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊə.ri.əs/ [C1] (adj): xa xỉ
post-industrial /ˌpəʊst.ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əl/ (adj): hậu công nghiệp
capitalist economy (n): nền kinh tế tư bản
term /tɜːm/ (v): cho là, đặt tên là
index /ˈɪn.deks/ (n): chỉ số
flaunt /flɔːnt/ (v): phô trương
wealth /welθ/ [B2] (n): sự giàu có
stellar /ˈstel.ər/ (adj): đáng nể, ưu tú
International Finance (n): Tài chính Quốc tế
premium /ˈpriː.mi.əm/ (adj): cao cấp
factor /ˈfæk.tər/ (n): nhân tố
landlocked /ˈlænd.lɒkt/ (adj): không giáp biển
terrain /təˈreɪn/ (n): địa hình
infrastructure /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃər/ [C1] (n): cơ sở hạ tầng
capitalize on/upon something (PhrV): tận dụng cái gì
roam /rəʊm/ (v): lang thang
at high altitude (n): nơi nào đó rất cao so với mực nước biển
pharmaceuticals /ˌfɑː.məˈsuː.tɪ.kəlz/ (n): dược phẩm
notorious /nəʊˈtɔː.ri.əs/ [C1] (adj): khét tiếng
powerhouse /ˈpaʊə.haʊs/ (n): cường quốc
credibility /ˌkred.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ [C2] (n): sự không đáng tin
take off (PhrV): phát triển nhanh chóng
collapse /kəˈlæps/ [B2] (n): sự sụp đổ
bloom /bluːm/ (v): ở thời kỳ đỉnh cao
neutral /ˈnjuː.trəl/ [C1] (adj): trung lập
chaos /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/ [B2] (n): sự hỗn loạn
morality /məˈræl.ə.ti/ (n): đạo đức
stance /stɑːns/ [C2] (n): lập trường
suck sb in/suck sb into sth (PhrV): lôi kéo ai vào cái gì
script /skrɪpt/ [B2] (n): kịch bản
indulge in sth /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ [C2] (v): tham gia vào cái gì
Nazi /ˈnɑːt.si/ (n): Người của Đức Quốc xã
Jew /dʒuː/ (n): người Do Thái
loot /luːt/ (v): cướp bóc
territory /ˈter.ɪ.tər.i/ [B2] (n): lãnh thổ
steel /stiːl/ [B2] (n): thép
Nordic /ˈnɔː.dɪk/ (adj): thuộc Bắc Âu
obtain /əbˈteɪn/ [B2] (v): đoạt được, giành được
object /ˈɒb.dʒɪkt/ [B2] (v): phản đối
pure /pjʊər/ [B1] (adj): trong sạch
withdraw /wɪðˈdrɔː/ [C1] (v): rút
controversial /ˌkɒn.trəˈvɜː.ʃəl/ [B2] (adj): gây tranh cãi
consensus /kənˈsen.səs/ [C2] (n): sự đồng thuận
variety /vəˈraɪ.ə.ti/ (n): kiểu, loại
high skilled labor (n): lao động tay nghề cao
investment /ɪnˈvest.mənt/ [B2] (n): sự đầu tư
industriousness /ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əs.nəs/ (n): sự cần cù
proof /pruːf/ [B2] (n): minh chứng
prime /praɪm/ [C2] (adj): hàng đầu
R&D (Research & Development) (n): Nghiên cứu & Phát triển
patent /ˈpeɪ.tənt/ (n): bằng sáng chế
associated with sth /əˈsəʊ.si.eɪ.tɪd/ (adj): gắn liền với
durability /ˌdʒʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti/ (n): sự bền bỉ
carve /kɑːv/ [C2] (v): chạm khắc
craftsmanship /ˈkrɑːfts.mən.ʃɪp/ (n): sự khéo léo
to mention a few (phrase): vân vân
cultivate /ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt/ [C1] (v): trồng trọt
exportation /ˌek.spɔːˈteɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự xuất khẩu
political stability (n): sự ổn định chính trị
public policy /ˌpʌb.lɪk ˈpɒl.ə.si/ (n): chính sách công
administration /ədˌmɪn.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃən/ [C2] (n): chính quyền
with an intent to do sth /ɪnˈtent/ [C2] (phrase): có ý định làm gì
abolish /əˈbɒl.ɪʃ/ [B2] (v): bãi bỏ
ceremonial /ˌser.ɪˈməʊ.ni.əl/ [B1] (adj): mang tính nghi thức
carry sth through (v): thực hiện cái gì thành công
Direct-Democracy approach (n): mô hình Dân chủ Trực tiếp
nationalistic /ˌnæʃ.ən.əlˈɪs.tɪk/ (adj): dân tộc chủ nghĩa
immigrant /ˈɪm.ɪ.ɡrənt/ [B2] (n): người nhập cư
elite /iˈliːt/ [C1] (n): tầng lớp tinh hoa
hijack /ˈhaɪ.dʒæk/ (v): lợi dụng
interest /ˈɪn.trest/ [C1] (n): lợi ích
representative /ˌrep.rɪˈzen.tə.tɪv/ [B2] (n): người đại diện
approval /əˈpruː.vəl/ [B2] (n): sự chấp thuận
referendum /ˌref.əˈren.dəm/ [C2] (n): trưng cầu dân ý
conservative /kənˈsɜː.və.tɪv/ [C1] (adj): bảo thủ
fiscal policy (n): chính sách tài khóa
increment /ˈɪŋ.krə.mənt/ (n): sự tăng (tiền bạc, nhiệt độ…)
lavish /ˈlæv.ɪʃ/ [C2] (adj): rất nhiều, xa hoa
police /pəˈliːs/ (v): giữ trật tự (ở một địa điểm)
rifle/ˈraɪ.fəl/ (n): súng trường
compulsory /kəmˈpʌl.sər.i/ [B2] (adj): bắt buộc
military service /ˌmɪl.ɪ.tər.i ˈsɜː.vɪs/ (n): nghĩa vụ quân sự
welfare /ˈwel.feər/ [C2] (n): phúc lợi
adapt to sth /əˈdæpt/ [B2] (v): thích nghi với cái gì
principle /ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/ [C2] (n): nguyên tắc
secrecy /ˈsiː.krə.si/ (n): sự bảo mật
allegedly /əˈledʒ.ɪd.li/ [C2] (adv): được cho là
vault /vɒlt/ (n): kho bạc
Tax Haven /ˈtæks ˌheɪ.vən/ (n): Thiên đường Thuế
(every) now and then/again (idiom): thỉnh thoảng
mine /maɪn/ [B2] (n): mỏ
trace sth (back) (to sth) (v): truy nguyên, tìm nguồn gốc của cái gì
disclosure /dɪˈskləʊ.ʒər/ (n): sự tiết lộ
facilitate /fəˈsɪl.ɪ.teɪt/ [C1] (v): tạo điều kiện thuận lợi
crisis /ˈkraɪ.sɪs/ [B2] (n): khủng hoảng
civil offense (n): tội dân sự
the Federal Assembly (n): Hội đồng Liên bang
criminal offense (n): tội hình sự
landmark /ˈlænd.mɑːk/ [C2] (adj): mang tính bước ngoặt
legislation /ˌledʒ.ɪˈsleɪ.ʃən/ [C2] (n): luật
act /ækt/ (n): đạo luật
declaration /ˌdek.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ [C1] (n): tuyên bố
criticism /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/ [B2] (n): sự chỉ trích
dictator /dɪkˈteɪ.tər/ (n): kẻ độc tài
despot /ˈdes.pɒt/ (n): kẻ chuyên quyền
mobster /ˈmɒb.stər/ (n): kẻ trộm cắp
corrupt /kəˈrʌpt/ [C1] (adj): tham nhũng
official /əˈfɪʃ.əl/ [C2] (n): quan chức
fraud /frɔːd/ [C2] (n): kẻ gian lận
involved /ɪnˈvɒlvd/ (adj): liên quan
asset /ˈæs.et/ [C1] (n): tài sản
rollback /ˈrəʊl.bæk/ (v): khôi phục
popularize /ˈpɒp.jə.lə.raɪz/ (v): phổ biến
intact /ɪnˈtækt/ [C2] (adj): nguyên vẹn
tax avoidance /ˈtæks əˌvɔɪ.dəns/ (n): tránh thuế
tax evasion /ˈtæks ɪˌveɪ.ʒən/ (n): trốn thuế
external /ɪkˈstɜː.nəl/ [B2] (adj): bên ngoài
confidential /ˌkɒn.fɪˈden.ʃəl/ [C1] (adj): riêng tư
strenuous /ˈstren.ju.əs/ [C2] (adj): khắt khe
duplicate /ˈdʒuː.plɪ.keɪt/ (v): sao chép
invade-able (adj): có thể bị xâm lược
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