IMF Staff Country Reports

Switzerland: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix

Publication Date:

May 5, 1999

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix compares two alternative time series approaches to analyzing Switzerland’s recent business cycle experience: first, the traditional “smooth-trend-plus-cycle approach,” which envisages observed output growth as fluctuating around a relatively smooth potential output growth path; and, second, the more recently developed “regime change approach,” which views business cycles as shifts between “high-growth” states (expansions) and “slow-growth” states (recessions) of the economy. The paper also examines Switzerland’s monetary policy framework, and describes the challenges to the Swiss tax system.

Series:

Country Report No. 1999/030

Subject:

Income and capital gains taxes Income tax systems Inflation Personal income tax Prices Revenue administration Taxes