How did Switzerland grow rich?

12 April 2019. In a public lecture series, Prof. Dr. Patrick Ziltener, Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Zurich and lecturer for public lectures at the HSG will examine the often-asked question as to how Switzerland grew rich. After all, no one would dispute that Switzerland is indeed a rich country. However, the question remains unanswered as to when and how it grew rich. More recent research, for instance into capital development or into Switzerland's early integration into the global economy, as well as comparative data sets, provide new insights.

The issues that Ziltener will discuss with the audience include the first sources of wealth, Switzerland's early globalisation and industrialisation, as well as the importance of its role as a financial centre. Fortunate circumstances made the country rich, too. Ziltener also looks at crises and freeloaders and will answer the question as to whether Switzerland really was the ideal liberal model – or can its economic rise be compared with that of the Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan)?

Photo: Adobe Stock / Valerie Potapova