Switzerland – a rich country

It is said that Switzerland is one of the most stable economies there is. If you look at the per capita income of the citizens, i.e. the income that every citizen earns on average, then Switzerland is a very rich country because this per capita income is very high. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t poor people in Switzerland, but the average is high.

Agriculture and delicious chocolate

In contrast to many developing or emerging countries, very few people work in agriculture in Switzerland, just four out of 100. Machines are used in agricultural work and make human work superfluous. Livestock and dairy farming mean a lot, especially for the regions of the Alps and the Jura. There are the mountain and mountain regions.

In the flatter Central Plateau, farmers grow grain, potatoes and beets. There is fruit growing in the east. The climate here is milder and various types of fruit can thrive there. Switzerland is also known for its cheese and delicious Swiss chocolate. Maybe the Swiss cows are simply happier than the cows in other countries? Incidentally, the share of organic farming is steadily increasing within agriculture in Switzerland.

What raw materials and industries does Switzerland have?

Switzerland has only a few raw materials. But it has enough of one raw material: water. One of the most important sources of energy is therefore hydropower. For example, Switzerland can cover part of its electricity needs with hydropower plants.

The Swiss industry has specialized in high-quality watches and the pharmaceutical industry is also a leader. Medicines are primarily manufactured here. Several large corporations conduct research in Switzerland and have their headquarters here. The Swiss also produce food.

Monetary affairs

Most people in Switzerland work in the field of services. There are a lot of banks in Switzerland and many people also work in the banking industry. These are not only those who sit behind the bank counters, but also many in offices that handle important financial transactions around the world. Many rich people invest their money in Switzerland.

Stock exchange

The stock exchange is a market in which various things are traded, for example securities, stocks or gold. The most important trading centers are in New York, London and Tokyo.

Tourism

For many people in Switzerland, tourism is also an important source of income. Since the Swiss landscape attracts many tourists year after year, the Swiss work in the field of tourism.

Snow cannons

Snow cannons can make snow artificially. The snow cannons change the natural water balance of the soil and the surface is more easily exposed to damage.

In summer, the Alps in particular attract many hikers who enjoy the Swiss mountains and spend their vacation here. The network of Swiss hiking trails is very well developed. You can “hike” over 60,000 kilometers in Switzerland. There are great signs everywhere and many volunteers maintain this network. Well-developed bike paths are now also being added.

In winter, the winter sports regions attract skiers and snowboarders. The Swiss Alps, with their famous winter sports locations such as Davos, Zermatt and St. Moritz, are attractions for skiers from all over the world. The consequences of climate change can also be felt in Switzerland, especially the places that are lower down complaining of too little snow. More and more snow cannons are being used, but unfortunately they pose a risk to the environment.

Many also use Switzerland’s cultural offerings. Attractive museums with exhibitions attract many culture lovers.

Why does Switzerland not want to join the EU?

According to commit4fitness, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. If you look at the location of Switzerland on the map, Switzerland is right in the heart of Europe. Many people ask themselves why the Swiss don’t want to join the EU.

Independence is very important to the Swiss. How important this is to them is also shown by their attitude during the First and Second World Wars. Because here, too, the Swiss have behaved neutrally, which means that they have not interfered. All member states of the EU give up a little power because the union can decide together for all states. And that’s exactly what the Swiss don’t want, they just want to decide for themselves.

What does direct democracy mean?

The Swiss can vote directly on certain matters by means of referendums. Such referendums take place several times a year. Not every law is decided this way, but citizens can vote on a law if a certain number of Swiss citizens’ signatures come together.