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Successful support in the awarding of broadcasting licenses

AZ Regionalfernsehen AG successfully applied with Tele M1 and TeleBärn for the broadcasting licenses in the Aargau/Solothurn and Bern regions. An expert opinion from Swiss Economics was submitted as part of the application. Swiss Economics prepared a second report for CH Media too, that led to a similar success. CH Media has acquired with Radio Central the local radio broadcasting license for the Central-Switzerland region.

Our reports examined in particular the influence of the award of the license on the diversity of offerings and opinions. The focus was on the conflict of objectives between the strict structural independence of broadcasters and their possibility of offering a diverse program. The positive externality of media content for democratic decision-making, which justifies state support for public service, only exists if viewers are truly interested in the broadcasted content. Very small, but structurally independent media providers are usually unable to build up the necessary reach with their limited financial resources, e.g. due to the lack of economies of scale. In addition, there are strong incentives to provide a diverse program, particularly in concentrated media markets.

Swiss Economics concludes in its reports that the synergy benefits and the strengthening of regional media in journalistic competition outweigh any concerns regarding structural independence.

Click here for the project entry on our website.

Contribution to the 1st Annual Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries

Christian Jaag and Urs Trinkner presented their paper.

Christian Jaag and Urs Trinkner presented their paper «Regulation in Network Industries: Theory and Practice» at the 1st Annual Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries.

Presentation on the Cost of Universal Service Provision in the Postal Sector

A presentation by Christian Jaag.

At the 1st European Postal Benchmarking Workshop on Regulatory and Legal Affairs in Brussels, Christian Jaag has given a presentation on «Calculating the Net Cost of the USO».
Postal strategies in a digital age

Presentation on postal strategies in a digital age.

Christian Jaag presented a paper on "Postal Strategies in a Digital age" at the 4th Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures of the Florence School of Regulation.
Presentations at the 23rd CPDE in Athens

Multiple papers presented in Athens.

Swiss Economics contributed three presentations and papers to the 23rd Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics:

  • Commercial and regulatory challenges for postal e-services in Switzerland
  • Cryptocurrencies: New Opportunities for Postal Financial Services
  • Postal strategies in a digital age

All papers are available in our Working Paper Series.
Publication on integrated timetables

A contribution of Swiss Economics team members has been published in the journal for Competition and Regulation in Network Industries.

Abstract: Rail passenger transport services with integrated regular interval timetables (IRIT) offer passengers a regular interval timetable for services on the railway network. IRIT have the potential to increase the quality and attractiveness of railway passenger services in comparison to other transport modes. This paper summarizes the advantages and challenges of the implementation of IRIT for railway passenger services, presents a quantitative model which simulates passenger utility in an IRIT railway system compared to other forms of timetables, and derives the main requirements for the successful introduction of IRIT. The comparison of the regulatory framework, the role of IRIT and the development of passenger railway services in CH, the NL and the UK, shows that in those countries where either IRIT has been introduced (CH) or the high frequency of trains between cities provides for a system comparable to IRIT (NL), railway services play a more important role in the modal split. The successful introduction of IRIT requires a long-run implementation schedule which identifies the necessary investment in the railway infrastructure and points out the financial resources available to make those investments. Further, IRIT requires a high level of punctuality of railway passenger services, coordination between railway companies when designing the timetable and a priority rule for passenger railway services within IRIT when there are capacity restrictions on the railway network.

To the working paper
Future energy markets and the role of network operators

A study for Bundesamt für Energie (BFE).

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) published a report of Ecofys and Swiss Economics on future energy markets and the role of power network operators.

To the final report
Study on the benefit of auditing

A collaboration with the University of Zurich.
In collaboration with the University of Zurich, Swiss Economics has written a study on the benefits of auditing. The study concludes that auditing improves firm specific information, thus potentially reducing information deficits of numerous stakeholders. The benefit thanks to the reduction of information deficits are particularly large for publicly owned firms and firms with many stakeholders.

To the final report

Publication on the deregulation of the electricity market

Article on the experiences with the electricity market opening in the EU.

In a recent article on the experiences with the electricity market in the EU, we conclude that the member states have not yet worked out a silver bullet in the organization of the regulatory conditions.
New publications

Two new publications on the postal market in Switzerland and in the United States.
Two scientific papers by Swiss Economics team members were published in the book «Postal and Delivery Innovation in the Digital Economy». The publications discuss the consequences of an adjustment of Saturday delivery in the United States and of the new postal law in Switzerland.

To the book

New staff member

Swiss Economics welcomes Dr. Michael Funk as a new staff member!

Dr. Michael Funk is a project leader for Swiss Economics with a focus on competition policy and regulatory economics. After his studies in history and economics at the University of Fribourg, he obtained his Doctorate in the areas of political economics and financial sciences. He subsequently worked as an economist for the competition commission.
Regulatory framework for the Swiss postal sector

Presentation at the International Postal and e-Communications Conference on the Swiss regulatory framework for the postal sector in light of current challenges.

At the International Postal and e-Communications Conference, Christian Jaag gave a presentation on the Swiss regulatory framework for the postal sector in light of current challenges.
New director in Berlin

Dr. Martin Lutzenberger appointed Director Berlin Office.

Martin Lutzenberger is our new Director of Office Berlin. Focusing on competition economics, economic policy, transportation and energy, Martin will develop our activities in Germany.
After his studies in economics at the University of Freiburg i.Br. he received a doctoral degree at the University of Zurich. From 2010 to 2014, he was a project manager and lecturer at the University of Lucerne. Besides, he was a lecturer at the University of Zurich and an external expert in Swiss Economics.
Cost allocation and welfare

Recent conference contributions are available in our working paper series.

Swiss Economics has presented recent research papers at the 22th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics:

  • USO cost allocation rules and welfare
  • Market Regulations and USO in the Revised Swiss Postal Act
  • Estimating the Financial Impact of Discontinuing Saturday Delivery

The works are available in our Working Paper Series.
Swiss Economics accepts Bitcoin

We accept payments and offer to pay salaries in Bitcoin.

As of now, we accept Bitcoin as payment for our consulting services. We also offer our employees the option to receive their salary (or a part of it) in Bitcoin.
Model simulation for the United States Postal Regulatory Commission

A report for the United States Postal Regulatory Commission.

The U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) published today a report of Swiss Economics on the Impact of the discontinuance of Saturday delivery for letters and flats on the U.S. Postal Service.

To the final report
Virtual currencies and e-commerce

Presentation of the research paper on «The Effect of Payment Reversibility on E-commerce and Postal Quality».

Christian Jaag presented the research paper «The Effect of Payment Reversibility on E-commerce and Postal Quality» at the 8th Bi-Annual Postal Economics Conference of the Toulouse School of Economics. The irreversibility of payments in virtual currencies shifts the risk of e-commerce from merchants to consumers. Under certain conditions, this strengthens online retailers in competition with brick-and-mortar stores as well as incentives for postal quality.
Efficiency benchmarking of distribution systems operators

A report for Bundesnetzagentur.

BNetzA published the report of Swiss Economics on benchmarking the German energy distribution system operators.
New publications

New publications on assessing the burden of universal service providers and on calculating the net costs of home delivery obligations.

Two new publications of Swiss Economics team members have been published in the book «The Role of the Postal and Delivery Sector in a Digital Age».


To the book
To the working paper «USO Burden»
To the working paper «USO Delivery»
Virtual Currencies: What Role for Postal Operators?

Contribution to the webinar on “Virtual currencies: Exploring a Potential Role for Postal Operators».

The webinar included inputs from the USPS IOG Global Team and the UPU