Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation is one of the most prosperous and stable economies in Europe. The per capita income of $32,200 makes Switzerland the 18th richest nation in the world. Much of that wealth is generated by investors who are attracted by the secrecy of Switzerland's banking laws. The economy is currently growing at a rate of 1.9 percent, and inflation is low (1.2 percent). The unemployment rate (3.8 percent) is less than half the average for Europe. Some income disparity does exist, and Switzerland ranks 33.1 on the Gini Index of Inequality. The richest 10 percent claim 25.2 percent of the country's wealth, while the poorest 10 percent claim 2.6 of resources. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Reports rank Switzerland ninth in the world in overall quality-of-life issues.

The Swiss government expends 11.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health, allocating $3,776 (international dollars) per capita for health-re-lated programs. The government bears the responsibility for 58.5 percent of total health spending, and 69.3 percent is earmarked for Social Security. Private sector spending accounts for 41.5 percent of health spending in Switzerland, and more than three-fourths of that amount are generated from out-of-pocket expenses. There are 3.61 physicians, 10.75 nurses, 0.28 midwives, 0.50 dentists, and 0.60 pharmacists per 1,000 population in Switzerland.

While the central government bears the brunt of providing health insurance to protect the population from illnesses, accidents, and disability, each canton has its own health laws. These local governmental bodies also provide oversight of health services. Switzerland provides a solidarity-based minimum retirement benefit and guarantees equal access to healthcare. Social programs designed to promote the interests of children and adolescents include free education and training opportunities. Compulsory social insurance protects individuals who are ill or who experience work-related accidents or who go through extended periods of unemployment.

The elderly are covered by a generous pension plan. All employed residents of Switzerland are eligible for the basic pension plan, and many residents choose to take out voluntary insurance coverage. In order to protect the elderly and the disabled, workers pay 4.2 percent of their salaries into the fund. Seven percent of earnings are earmarked for disability pensions. The self-employed contribute 7.8 percent of income to the fund for the elderly and survivors and 1.4 percent for disability coverage. Employers are required to contribute 4.2 percent of the payroll to retirement and survivor fund and 0.7 percent to the disability fund. Government funds from varying levels account for one-fifth of retirement allotments and half of disability costs. Maternity benefits are provided for 16 weeks.

Switzerland has the eighth highest life expectancy in the world, with the population of 7,523,934 enjoying a life expectancy of 80.51 years. On average, females outlive males by six years. At 99 percent, literacy is virtually universal, and nearly all of the relevant population attends primary and secondary school. All of the people have sustained access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. Some 82 percent of Swiss women use birth control, and females give birth at a rate of 1.43 children each. The adjusted maternal mortality ratio is seven deaths per 100,000 live births.

...