Switzerland
- Abstract
- Summary
- Comparative Statistical Analysis
- Strengths and Weakness
- Instruments ratifications
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Wikipedia Country Information
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country situated at the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern. Switzerland is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. It is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps, and the Jura, spanning a total area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi), and land area of 39,997 km2 (15,443 sq mi). Although the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8.5 million is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities and economic centres are located, among them Zürich, Geneva, and Basel. These cities are home to several offices of international organisations such as the headquarters of FIFA, the UN's second-largest Office, and the main building of the Bank for International Settlements. The main international airports of Switzerland are also located in these cities.
The establishment of the Old Swiss Confederacy dates to the late medieval period, resulting from a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognized in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the founding document of Switzerland which is celebrated on Swiss National Day. Since the Reformation of the 16th century, Switzerland has maintained a strong policy of armed neutrality; it has not fought an international war since 1815 and did not join the United Nations until 2002. Nevertheless, it pursues an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world. Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross, one of the world's oldest and best known humanitarian organisations, and is home to numerous international organisations, including the United Nations Office at Geneva, which is its second-largest in the world. It is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association, but notably not part of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Eurozone. However, it participates in the Schengen Area and the European Single Market through bilateral treaties.
Switzerland occupies the crossroads of Germanic and Romance Europe, as reflected in its four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although the majority of the population are German-speaking, Swiss national identity is rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy, and Alpine symbolism. Due to its linguistic diversity, Switzerland is known by a variety of native names: Schweiz [ˈʃvaɪts] (German); Suisse [sɥis(ə)] (French); Svizzera [ˈzvittsera] (Italian); and Svizra [ˈʒviːtsrɐ, ˈʒviːtsʁɐ] (Romansh). On coins and stamps, the Latin name, Confoederatio Helvetica – frequently shortened to "Helvetia" – is used instead of the four national languages.
A developed country, it has the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product, and has been considered a tax haven. It ranks highly on some international metrics, including economic competitiveness and human development. Its cities such as Zürich, Geneva, and Basel rank among the highest in the world in terms of quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living in the world. In 2020, IMD placed Switzerland first in attracting skilled workers. The World Economic Forum ranks it the 5th most competitive country globally.
Instruments ratified: | 189 / 282 |
---|---|
World Average Ratifications: | 114 / 282 |
Ratification rate: | 67.26% |
World Average Rate: | 41.25% |
Weighted score: | 71.05% |
World Average Weighted Score: | 41.25% |
World rank: | 10 / 194 |
Developed country rank: | 10 / 30 |
Developed country Avg. Ratifications: | 159 / 282 |
Western Europe rank: | 5 / 10 |
Western Europe Avg. Ratifications: | 169 / 282 |
CONTRACTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agency | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 8 | Weak |
Conflict of laws | 3/7 (42.86%) | 71.43% | 3.00% | 1 | Strong |
E-commerce | 0/3 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 70 | Weak |
Franchising | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Leasing/Factoring | 0/2 | 0.00% | 5.00% | 13 | Weak |
Principles, trade usages and standards | 0/2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Procurement | 0/4 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 31 | Weak |
Sale of Goods | 1/5 (20.00%) | 45.45% | 25.00% | 29 | Strong |
Travel contracts | 0/1 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 7 | Weak |
Total | 4 | 14.49% | 9.00% | 37 | Strong |
CUSTOMS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Customs Codification | 2/3 (66.67%) | 100.00% | 78.00% | 1 | Strong |
Customs Cooperation | 2/6 (33.33%) | 40.00% | 26.00% | 48 | Strong |
Exemption from Duties | 6/9 (66.67%) | 66.67% | 30.00% | 23 | Strong |
Temporary Admission | 10/11 (90.91%) | 100.00% | 28.00% | 1 | Strong |
Transit | 2/4 (50.00%) | 72.73% | 28.00% | 17 | Strong |
Total | 22 | 77.17% | 31.00% | 12 | Strong |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Arbitration | 4/6 (66.67%) | 50.00% | 32.00% | 29 | Strong |
Judicial cooperation | 5/5 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 36.00% | 1 | Strong |
Recognition of foreign judgments | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 6 | Weak |
State court jurisdiction | 0/4 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 29 | Weak |
State court procedure | 0/1 | 0.00% | 6.00% | 12 | Weak |
State immunities | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 11.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 10 | 64.00% | 29.00% | 25 | Strong |
ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air | 4/5 (80.00%) | 80.00% | 86.00% | 59 | Weak |
Chemicals | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 78.00% | 1 | Strong |
Energy | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 25.00% | 1 | Strong |
Flora and fauna | 7/10 (70.00%) | 76.09% | 68.00% | 46 | Strong |
Foodstuff | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 79.00% | 1 | Strong |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
International watercourses | 0/1 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 36 | Weak |
Maritime and Law of the Sea | 19/26 (73.08%) | 72.83% | 46.00% | 34 | Strong |
Protected geographical areas | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 27.00% | 1 | Strong |
Waste | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 38 | 78.13% | 61.00% | 28 | Strong |
FINANCE, PAYMENTS AND INSOLVENCY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Assignment of receivables | 0/1 | 0.00% | 1.00% | 2 | Weak |
Bankruptcy and insolvency | 0/1 | 0.00% | 21.00% | 41 | Weak |
Bills of exchange and promissory notes | 3/4 (75.00%) | 50.00% | 8.00% | 1 | Strong |
Cheques | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 13.00% | 1 | Strong |
Credit transfers | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
International guarantees | 0/3 | 0.00% | 20.00% | 75 | Weak |
Total | 6 | 24.39% | 12.00% | 32 | Strong |
GOOD GOVERNANCE | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Corruption | 3/4 (75.00%) | 75.00% | 50.00% | 6 | Strong |
Cultural Property | 2/4 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 54.00% | 61 | Weak |
Drugs | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
Insider Trading | 0/1 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 9 | Weak |
Organized crime | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 80.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 10 | 76.92% | 68.00% | 50 | Strong |
HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR STANDARDS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Human Rights | 6/7 (85.71%) | 85.71% | 96.00% | 143 | Weak |
Labour Standards | 5/8 (62.50%) | 62.50% | 86.00% | 166 | Weak |
Total | 11 | 73.33% | 91.00% | 166 | Weak |
INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPATION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Dispute Resolution | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 39.00% | 1 | Strong |
International Trade Law | 10/10 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 73.00% | 1 | Strong |
Trade support institutions | 6/6 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 51.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 17 | 100.00% | 63.00% | 1 | Strong |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Broadcasting | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 47.00% | 1 | Strong |
Copyright | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 65.00% | 1 | Strong |
Industrial designs | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 31.00% | 1 | Strong |
Integrated circuits | 0/1 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 4 | Weak |
Neighboring Rights | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 46.00% | 1 | Strong |
Origin | 1/3 (33.33%) | 33.33% | 14.00% | 24 | Strong |
Patents | 5/5 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 57.00% | 1 | Strong |
Trademarks | 5/6 (83.33%) | 95.45% | 33.00% | 10 | Strong |
Varieties of plants | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 37.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 21 | 91.58% | 42.00% | 5 | Strong |
INVESTMENTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Investment disputes | 1/2 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 39.00% | 2 | Strong |
Investment guaranty | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 2 | 66.67% | 57.00% | 2 | Strong |
PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Marine Resources | 0/1 | 0.00% | 24.00% | 48 | Weak |
Timber | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 31.00% | 1 | Strong |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 92.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 2 | 76.92% | 53.00% | 23 | Strong |
TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air transport | 7/7 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 59.00% | 1 | Strong |
Aircrafts and civil aviation | 6/9 (66.67%) | 88.00% | 74.00% | 37 | Strong |
Maritime shipping and load lines | 8/13 (61.54%) | 80.00% | 66.00% | 88 | Strong |
Maritime transport | 8/12 (66.67%) | 58.33% | 27.00% | 6 | Strong |
Multi modal transport | 0/2 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 15 | Weak |
Rail transport | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 22.00% | 1 | Strong |
Road transport | 4/4 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 31.00% | 1 | Strong |
Space | 3/4 (75.00%) | 83.33% | 40.00% | 16 | Strong |
Telecommunications | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 47.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 41 | 84.46% | 50.00% | 3 | Strong |
TREATIES LAW | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
General | 2/4 (50.00%) | 66.67% | 30.00% | 11 | Strong |
Total | 2 | 66.67% | 30.00% | 11 | Strong |
WTO | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Plurilateral Agreements | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 18.00% | 1 | Strong |
WTO Agreements | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 81.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 3 | 100.00% | 47.00% | 1 | Strong |
Strong | |
---|---|
Contracts | Conflict of laws |
Contracts | Sale of Goods |
Customs | Customs Codification |
Customs | Customs Cooperation |
Customs | Exemption from Duties |
Customs | Temporary Admission |
Customs | Transit |
Dispute resolution | Arbitration |
Dispute resolution | Judicial cooperation |
Dispute resolution | State immunities |
Environment and products | Chemicals |
Environment and products | Energy |
Environment and products | Flora and fauna |
Environment and products | Foodstuff |
Environment and products | Maritime and Law of the Sea |
Environment and products | Protected geographical areas |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bills of exchange and promissory notes |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Cheques |
Good Governance | Corruption |
Good Governance | Organized crime |
Institutional Participation | Dispute Resolution |
Institutional Participation | International Trade Law |
Institutional Participation | Trade support institutions |
Intellectual property | Broadcasting |
Intellectual property | Copyright |
Intellectual property | Industrial designs |
Intellectual property | Neighboring Rights |
Intellectual property | Origin |
Intellectual property | Patents |
Intellectual property | Trademarks |
Intellectual property | Varieties of plants |
Investments | Investment disputes |
Products | Timber |
Transport and telecommunications | Air transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Aircrafts and civil aviation |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime shipping and load lines |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Rail transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Road transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Space |
Transport and telecommunications | Telecommunications |
Treaties law | General |
WTO | Plurilateral Agreements |
WTO | WTO Agreements |
Average | |
Contracts | Franchising |
Contracts | Principles, trade usages and standards |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Credit transfers |
Weak | |
Contracts | Agency |
Contracts | E-commerce |
Contracts | Leasing/Factoring |
Contracts | Procurement |
Contracts | Travel contracts |
Dispute resolution | Recognition of foreign judgments |
Dispute resolution | State court jurisdiction |
Dispute resolution | State court procedure |
Environment and products | Air |
Environment and products | General |
Environment and products | International watercourses |
Environment and products | Waste |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Assignment of receivables |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bankruptcy and insolvency |
Finance, payments and insolvency | International guarantees |
Good Governance | Cultural Property |
Good Governance | Drugs |
Good Governance | Insider Trading |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Human rights |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Labour Standards |
Intellectual property | Integrated circuits |
Investments | Investment guaranty |
Products | General |
Products | Marine Resources |
Transport and telecommunications | Multi modal transport |
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