Economic Policy

SECO analyses key developments and challenges in the Swiss labour market, including digitalisation, demographic change, evolving skill needs, work–family reconciliation, and the situation of younger and older workers. It also assesses the effectiveness of public employment services and their instruments.

Economic growth and high labour productivity are key prerequisites for maintaining and increasing our prosperity. The Federal Council places great importance on a long‑term and competition‑oriented growth policy. SECO regularly analyses the development of the Swiss economy as well as existing challenges and derives the need for action from these assessments.

Competition drives innovation, efficiency and fair pricing – making it a key engine of prosperity and job security. A policy framework that promotes competition is therefore the cornerstone of any long-term economic strategy. The Growth and Competition Policy division is responsible for strengthening and developing the conditions that support effective competition.

SECO is committed to promoting business‑friendly framework conditions. As the federal competence centre for regulatory matters, we support and advise the responsible offices in analysing the economic impact of new legislative proposals and in implementing the Act on Reducing the Regulatory Burden on Businesses. The objective is efficient regulation that lowers costs, fosters innovation and enables sustainable economic growth.

“Foundations for Economic Policy” is a SECO publication series that presents commissioned research studies on economic policy issues. The series covers a broad range of topics – from competition law and labour markets to regulation and growth policy – and is generally published in one main language with summaries in the other national languages as well as in English. It serves as a scientific basis supporting the economic policy decisions of the Swiss Federal Council.