Can Pain Cause A Rash

The wage gap is widening! Who ...

By Kurt Weigelt, Director CCI

On 22 June haunted by a bold headline in the entire Swiss leaves: The wage gap is widening. In support of this statement is a study of the trade union Travail Suisse, was quoted by the stronger despite recession in every other company that rose as the Toplöhne Tiefstlöhne. The allegation of a large scale increasing wage gap is simply wrong.

who took the trouble to read the small print, found that only the wages Travail Suisse examined from 27 companies and found 13 companies in a growing wage gap. 13 Companies! In other words, based on wage developments in the Swiss economy was the headline of no value and served only the purpose of the relationship between employers and employees to damage. Thus, the union has achieved its goal. Compliment.

is annoying that it is this media blunder is not a single unfortunate event. On the contrary. The association of the Swiss economy, with a few global corporations is one of the Constants of the published opinion. For those readers who are not interested in political controversy, here are some facts:

Switzerland, a country of micro

In Switzerland there are around 310,000 businesses. 270,000 enterprises employing less than 10, about 33,000 companies employees less than 50. 6000 companies have more than 50 and only about 1,100 companies, more than 250 employees. 270 of these large companies are publicly listed. Who statements on the Swiss economy to the changes in 13 groups is reduced, negligence.

Having to size as myth

Amazingly, and contrary to the public perception of the political and technological changes in the recent past, not the large companies, but very small businesses have benefited. Today there are 17% more micro enterprises than in 1991. The number of medium and large companies, however, has declined in the past twenty years. The repeatedly expressed to the size constraint is quite simply wrong. The smaller social units involved with the globalization and virtualization of communication rather gained in importance.

Wages Economic recession in the

is the most important variable for wage increases labor productivity. Long term, labor productivity and wages rise about the same pace. In the crisis of 2009, labor productivity in Switzerland has fallen by 2 percent. However, many companies have raised wages. Contrary to the pronouncements of the union workers are not the losers in the recession.

only slight opening of the wage gap

Wages in Switzerland vary considerably by industry. Well above the Swiss median wage and salaries are higher at the banks, insurance companies and in the chemical industry. Also above average Wages paid to public administration. In the retail and hospitality industries, however, the average wage is only half as high as the state employees. Within limits, the changes observed in the wage differentials. The Gini coefficient, which measures the distribution of income between households has grown in Switzerland from 2000 to 2008 of 0.23 to 0.26. Within the OECD, Switzerland is among the countries with a relatively low wage inequality. The claim of a large scale growing wage gap between "top" and "down" is incorrect.