March 2008

Switzerland ranks 9th in 2008 Index of Economic Freedom

Switzerland is among the top countries (9th place) in the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom published by The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal. According to the 2008 assessment, Switzerland scores 1.6 percentage points higher than last year. In the European sector, Switzerland ranks 2nd of 41 countries.

In Switzerland, there is freedom in investment, trade, finances, property, and business. Corruption is virtually nonexistent. The average tariff rate is low, and commercial operations are protected by the regulatory environment and aided by a flexible labor market. Inflation is extremely low, and foreign investment is welcome and subject to few restrictions. The national financial sector leads the world and is protective of privacy as well as open to foreign institutions. The judiciary, independent of politics, enforces contracts reliably. Switzerland’s outstanding results in the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom represent the importance of a reliable and free Swiss economy.

The 2008 Index of Economic Freedom measures and ranks 157 countries (including 41 in Europe) in ten specific freedom criteria. These include: investment, trade, business, monetary, freedom from corruption, financial, labor, property rights, fiscal, and government size. 

www.heritage.org
 

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