This paper serves as a comprehensive reference for users of the Swiss Household Energy Demand Survey (SHEDS). SHEDS was conducted annually from 2016 to 2021, followed by two waves in 2023 and 2025; two further waves are scheduled in 2027 and 2029. So far, it provides a panel dataset of eight waves...

Global employee work engagement remains critically low, with only 21% of employees engaged worldwide in 2024 and Switzerland ranking near the bottom in Europe at 8%. Existing theories and models that explain employee engagement (Reinforcement Theory, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, Equity Theory,...

We estimate daily wage rates for skilled and unskilled construction workers and agricultural laborers in Switzerland from 1750 to 1860, a period of profound political and economic transformations. Our analysis is based on 17,700 newly collected wage quotes from primary sources and 23,300 price...

Switzerland features strong socio-economic segregation and no formal school choice, making residential relocation the only channel through which parents can access preferred schools. Identifying how parents value school attributes is therefore essential but challenging, given that choices bundle...

This paper assesses the impact of the Swiss CO2 levy on residential heating energy demand and the associated CO2 emissions. Using the synthetic control method, the results show that the levy led to an average annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 6.5% during the post-treatment period (2008-2021),...

Our econometric (cointegration) analysis of the Swiss franc US dollar exchange rates over the period 1974 - 2025 provides strong evidence for a negative bias of the forward rate as predictor of the spot rate for the years up to 2007, which disappears with data from 2008 onwards. This implies...

This whitepaper examines how leading Swiss and European insurers approach sustainability reporting, drawing on a systematic analysis of sustainability reports published by 24 insurers between 2021 and 2024 and structured interviews with 12 industry executives. The study traces the consolidation...

Using k-means clustering, we analyse two years of hourly electricity consumption data from approximately 4,000 households, based on specific consumption features. We identify three distinct clusters with clearly differentiated consumption levels and daily load profiles. A multinomial logit model...

We examine the impact of monetary and non-monetary incentives, individually and combined, on residential electricity consumption. A field experiment in Switzerland provided all participants with access to a custom-developed app offering feedback on electricity use and energy-saving tips. In...

Context: In Switzerland, about two-thirds of young people start dual vocational education and training (VET) at around 15 years of age. Research shows that they are challenged in many ways during this phase of their lives and are therefore particularly vulnerable. Thus, supporting the transition...

Gender equality and economic growth have historically tended to move together yet identifying causal effects has been difficult. This paper uses data on the support for female suffrage in Switzerland in order to explore the impact of technology adoption on gender norms. We argue that the early...

Die Diskussion über die Wiederbelebung der Vermögensteuer in Deutschland hat in den vergangenen Monaten Fahrt aufgenommen. Mit Verweis auf Ungleichheit bei der Verteilung von Vermögen und den steigenden staatlichen Finanzierungsbedarf fordern Parteien und NGOs eine stärkere Besteuerung...

Switzerland features strong socio-economic segregation and no formal school choice, making residential relocation the only channel through which parents can access preferred schools. Identifying how parents value school attributes is therefore essential but challenging, given that choices bundle...

The chocolate supply chain exemplifies the social and environmental challenges within global food systems. Growing awareness of environmental impact and ethical production practices is increasingly shaping consumer choices and influencing food policy. This highlights the need for an integrated...

Switzerland features strong socio-economic segregation and no formal school choice, making residential relocation the only channel through which parents can access preferred schools. Identifying how parents value school attributes is therefore essential but challenging, given that choices bundle...

In Switzerland, elective hip and knee replacements account for substantial healthcare expenditures and are central to debates on quality, appropriateness and value-based care. Existing DRG-based payment systems for acute somatic care remunerate volume and case mix, but do not reflect quality of...

„Kleine Lücke, große Wirkung“ – Wo manche nur leeren Raum und „Schmuddelecken“ sehen, entdecken kreative Architektinnen und Architekten das Potenzial für innovatives Wohnen. In seiner 14. Auflage widmet sich der renommierte Gestaltungspreis der Wüstenrot Stiftung einer der...

Corporations are under increasing pressure to align with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), ensuring equal opportunities for women and men in leadership, pay, and career growth. While studies on gender equality are growing, limited research explores the evolutionary paths leading to gender parity. This...

The proposed revision of the Swiss Banking Act introduces a public liquidity backstop (PLB) for distressed systemically important banks (SIBs), in part to facilitate resolution. We examine the impact of the PLB on fiscal balances, societal welfare, and the incentives of bank shareholders and...

Energy cultures, broadly defined as shared beliefs, practices, and material preferences that shape energy-related behaviors, provide a useful framework for investigating consumption differences across population groups. We investigate how households' energy demand behavior differ across the...

This paper studies the effects of the 2017 multilateral automatic exchange of information (AEoI) on tax compliance in Switzerland. Using detailed administrative tax data and difference-in-differences designs, I find significant positive compliance effects. The AEoI prompted 107k taxpayers (2% of...

Die infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH wurde vom Soziooekonomischen Panel (SOEP) am Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) mit der Befragung von Geflüchteten aus der Ukraine beauftragt. Die Studie wird gemeinsam vom Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und...

This study investigates the differences in e-mobility between urban and rural areas in Switzerland. A survey of 1,037 residents in Switzerland shows that rural areas favor e-mobility more, despite urban areas being more environmentally conscious. Rural residents prefer e-bikes and cars, while...

Rank-rank regression is commonly employed in economic research as a way of capturing the relationship between two economic variables. It frequently features in studies of intergenerational mobility as the resulting coefficient, capturing the rank correlation between the variables, is easy to...

The transition to decarbonized energy systems requires addressing diverse stakeholder interests. Yet current stakeholder analysis limits itself to mostly policymakers and experts. This study examines priorities and coalitions among Swiss stakeholders in energy and climate policies, by applying...

This article examines the contentious debate surrounding Universal Basic Income (UBI)-an unconditional, equal, and permanent cash payment providing basic needs for all citizens-from an ideological left-right perspective. It analyzes key arguments made by proponents and opponents on both sides,...

In this study, we focus on non-members' benefit perception of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and their willingness to join. We look into how information impacts the perception of CSA benefits, their relevance, and how these benefits and other factors such as trust levels, subjective...