Good - But good enough?

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The Swiss government had acted out of a mixture of fear and creativity, and the result was a pleasant surprise. So says Peter A. Fischer, head of the influential economics section of the NZZ newspaper, which otherwise tends to be critical of the state. However, his statement only applies to the initial phase. Fischer says that the government had “used its stabilisation measures sensibly” at the start of the lockdown. Rudolf Minsch, representing Economiesuisse, an organisation not usually renowned for being close to the state, also praised the initial measures taken by Swiss officialdom, including the debt brake and the well-balanced state budget, the only solution allowing the measures to be in any way sustainable. Like Peter A. Fischer, however, Minsch criticises the government for releasing the brakes too late. On the other hand, one participant with an Indian background but based in Switzerland praised Swiss politics in general terms. Unlike the situation in many other countries, none of the leading politicians had sought to exploit the crisis for their own benefit. The country was what mattered, and nothing else. Petra Gössi, head of the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP), experienced the crisis at the political centre of Switzerland. Her scope of action had been limted as the parliament had been unable to act for a long time. All competencies lay with the Federal Council. Basic rights were restricted. Communication within the parties and with the population was massively disrupted. Politically, the crisis had been a major challenge. Petra Gössi draws five lessons from it:

It is worth having a functioning state: for

Politicians also need a push towards digitisation in order to maintain their ability to act in crises.

everyone, for the economy, for society, and for culture. Neither an ultra-liberal nor a socialist state could have acted so sensibly.

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04 Politicians and the

Risk management must be strengthened. There will always be crises.

authorities must check how many precautionary measures should be taken, for instance by reviewing what should be in the compulsory stock and in what proportions.

05 Very importantly, crisis management will place a heavy burden on the next generation: these

generations must be given a perspective, not just inherit debts.

How much state intervention should there be?

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