Despite growing prosperity, free trade is coming in for criticism in many countries. Some fear competition from abroad, while others believe globalization is enabling the circumvention of regulations and exploitation of less economically developed countries. There is currently talk of trade barriers designed to restrict the exchange of goods by means of administrative hurdles rather than tariffs. The idea of applying laws extraterritorially is also gaining currency in Switzerland. But this runs counter to the principle that international trade should be based on a common set of rules – rules that are especially beneficial for a small, export-oriented country such as Switzerland. Swiss companies already have comprehensive corporate social responsibility frameworks in place. Rather than posing a threat to the emerging economies where they do business, they generally have a positive impact on human rights and the environment in these countries.
Smart Government
Lording it over the Rest of the World
Why Switzerland should resist the temptation of legal imperialism
Numerous efforts are under way in Switzerland to apply the local law extraterritorially. De facto, these attempts will establish new trade barriers. Various initiatives, such as the Corporate Responsibility Initiative, aim to undermine this principle. In the new policy brief “Lording it over the Rest of the World”, Fabian Schnell and Patrick Dümmler critically analyze such efforts.
Numerous efforts are under way in Switzerland to apply the local law extraterritorially. De facto, these attempts will establish new trade barriers. Various initiatives, such as the Corporate Responsibility Initiative, aim to undermine this principle. In the new policy brief “Lording it over the Rest of the World”, Fabian Schnell and Patrick Dümmler critically analyze such efforts.
The Avenir-Suisse Drivers of Prosperity
Smart Government

Dr. Patrick Dümmler is Senior Fellow and Head of Research “Open Switzerland” at Avenir Suisse. He is responsible for topics such as free trade, farming and energy. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics of the University of Zurich, holds a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich and published several textbooks. After more than ten years as strategy advisor and as head of an association, which promotes medical technology exports, he joined Avenir Suisse in November 2015.
Foreign trade
Energy policy
Agricultural policy

Dr. Fabian Schnell is Senior Fellow and Head of Research “Smart Government.” He focuses on topics such as budget and fiscal policy, monetary policy, federalism, e-government and security policy. After his studies in economics at the University of St. Gallen, Gothenburg and the London School of Economics he worked as a research assistant as well as a project manager in the area of general economic policy and education at economiesuisse.
Financial policy
Monetary policy
Macroeconomics
Tax Politic
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