Switzerland as an Emerging Economy. How Switzerland became rich

No raw materials, a low level of agricultural production, complex traffic routes, political fragmentation - how come Switzerland was at the cutting edge of industrialisation as early as the 18th and 19th century and a tough competitor for a great power like England? Why is it today among the richest countries world-wide? What relevance does Switzerland's historical development have today? To what extent is it relevant for the future of Africa, Asia and Latin America?

These are the guiding questions of this publication as it presents cornerstones of Swiss economic history in an easily readable and illustrated manner. By no means is this publication a request for other countries to copy Switzerland's path to prosperity. There are no one-size-fits-all approaches, least of all in today's completely changed economic world order. At the same time learning from experience is not forbidden.

In this publication it is not the Swiss but personalities from Africa, Asia and Central America who draw conclusions from the described historical developments. It can be downloaded in German and English.

Switzerland, part of the global village

How does the quality of life compare in India’s Kerala, California in the US and the Swiss Kanton of Zurich? How is globalisation driving Switzerland's prosperity? How does the trend towards a multicultural society affect Swiss classrooms?

The world influences Switzerland, and vice versa. A brochure just published by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) highlights Switzerland's strengths and weaknesses in the context of North-South relations. 20 attractive graphs illustrate facts and comparisons in the fields of politics, economics, society and cooperation.

The SDC commissioned Richard Gerster to prepare the brochure, which is available in German, French and Italian. The publication can be downloaded on the right or at the SDC’s website, where hard copies can be ordered also, free of charge (again in German, French, Italian, but not in English).

ECDPM External Evaluation 2001–2005

The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM, www.ecdpm.org) based in Maastricht and Brussels is an institution with a challenging and unique mandate. ECDPM asked an international team of independent consultants with Konrad Matter of Gerster Consulting as the team leader to assess its performance of the last five years in view of the upcoming cycle 2006–2010.

The evaluation itself became an innovative piece of institutional analysis of a centre moving at the ridge of development cooperation between North and South, and particularly with regards relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Group of States (ACP). The final report summarises the team’s findings in a nutshell: "The Centre’s primary added value is around its process orientated and independent broker approach, its unique focus on EU–ACP, and its positioning amongst the relationship between, research, policy and practice."

Mondialisation et équité («Globalisation and Equity»)

La traduction française du livre «Mondalisation et équité» («Globalisierung und Gerechtigkeit») est parue récemment. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Conseillère fédérale et Cheffe du Département fédéral des Affaires étrangères (DFAE): «Dans son livre intitulé Mondialisation et équité, Richard Gerster examine quelques-unes des principales causes et conséquences de la mondialisation en nous expliquant des situations complexes en des termes simples et compréhensibles. Mais il ne se limite pas à analyser cette évolution avec le talent didactique qui le caractérise, il esquisse aussi des voies méritant d’être explorées pour contrer les effets négatifs de la mondialisation et vivre pleinement la solidarité avec les plus défavorisés de ce monde.» La version allemande de cet ouvrage a reçu deux distinctions: La Planète bleue et l'Ardoise d'Or.

Globalisation and Equity ("Globalisierung und Gerechtigkeit")

Abstract:

A thoroughly revised version of the well known publication Globalisation and Equity (in German only, "Globalisierung und Gerechtigkeit" ) is now available. Who are the winners and the losers of globalisation? What snares do developing and transition countries face under the present, corporate-driven form of globalisation?

More than 70 graphic multi-coloured presentations mirror inequalities of wealth and poverty, power, politics, trade, finance, environment across the globe. A dozen development success stories are presented.

The first edition of this publication, often used at high schools, won two major educational awards:

• the Blue Planet Award
• the Golden Slate Award.

Selected graphs on core issues in North-South relations are accessible at this homepage under information/graphs.

Global Public Goods: A Development Perspective (German Only)

Abstract:

Goods, services, people increasingly cross borders due to globalisation. But also threats as are the global warming, financial crises or infectious diseases do not stop at the national boundaries. Facing such challenges, international cooperation to produce global public goods is vital. Whereas the overarching goal of development cooperation is poverty reduction, international cooperation to produce global public goods may have a different geographical and social orientation.

GPGs are produced in the self interest of the rich countries – their wealth depends as much on the GPGs as does the development of the Southern hemisphere. These different objectives and interests beyond poverty reduction necessitate to find new funding sources for GPGs. What are the main development concerns in the GPG debate?

The paper, written on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, tries to answer that question. In view of the achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, the relationship between development cooperation and GPGs has to be clarified.

Globalisation and Africa. What Perspectives for Development Co-operation? A Background Paper

Abstract:

This paper is the background paper for a workshop on ? Globalisation and Africa. What Perspectives for Development Cooperation?' in Basel (Switzerland), September 5 – 6, 2002, which Gerster Consulting organised on behalf of the two Africa Divisions of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Some 35% (SDC – 40%) of regionally classified Swiss bilateral development assistance was allocated to African countries in 2000. The African partners – governments as well as NGOs – are confronted with the adverse effects of globalisation, which is in turn a challenge for development cooperation. Against this background, SDC decided to organise a two-day workshop to rethink globalisation from an African perspective. The objectives of the workshop were threefold:

(1) African speakers would question Swiss perspectives on globalisation, challenge Swiss policies, including bilateral activities in Africa and positions taken in multilateral institutions, and propose alternative policy options.

(2) Participants involved in development cooperation with African partners would increase their competence to link effectively their strategic objectives and daily work on local issues to the global economic environment.

(3) Key areas of consensus as well as of controversy would be identified from a development cooperation perspective. In this context, this background paper aimed to provide an overall framework for the workshop; to offer an orientation for the three working groups in all three sessions; to stimulate debate and learning.

Globalisation and Africa. What Perspectives for Development Co-operation? Summary Final Report

Abstract:

This paper gives background information, conveys key messages, presents findings and follows up recommendations from the workshop "Globalisation and Africa. What Perspectives for Development Cooperation?" in Basel (Switzerland), September 5 – 6, 2002, convened by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

It provides a summary of the key messages in the following areas: Globalisation – a political project; state sovereignty revisited; new challenges for the state; development dilemmas; biased accountability; trade barriers and liberalisation; relevance of context; respect for livelihoods; regional solutions; inclusive policy making; shaping alliances.

An electronic version of the complete report on this event, including the presentations, can be obtained from

Global Public Goods: A Swiss Perspective (German Only)

Abstract:

This paper gives background information, conveys key messages, presents findings and follows up recommendations from the workshop "Globalisation and Africa. What Perspectives for Development Cooperation?" in Basel (Switzerland), September 5 – 6, 2002, convened by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

It provides a summary of the key messages in the following areas: Globalisation – a political project; state sovereignty revisited; new challenges for the state; development dilemmas; biased accountability; trade barriers and liberalisation; relevance of context; respect for livelihoods; regional solutions; inclusive policy making; shaping alliances.

An electronic version of the complete report on this event, including the presentations, can be obtained from