Avenir Suisse

Avenir Suisse is a think tank headquartered in Zurich, which is committed to the economic and social future of Switzerland. It is based on the world view of classical liberalism and the market economy. Avenir Suisse created on a scientific basis analyzes of economic and socio- political issues and organizes conferences, debates and forums of all kinds

The think tank is constituted as a foundation and is supported by more than 100 companies and individuals from all sectors and regions of Switzerland. Avenir Suisse is headed by Gerhard Schwarz. President of the Board of Trustees is Rolf Soiron who presides Lonza Group and the cement company Holcim.

Self-presentation

Avenir Suisse is a think tank based on the Anglo -Saxon model. He holds a market-based approach and is based on a classical liberal worldview. Accordingly, he takes the position that the problems of the present and the future can not be solved primarily by the state and should. This should rather create an environment in which to flourish their own initiative and responsibility, competition and private property. The Foundation developed and launched their projects independently and autonomously. This is ensured by a secured multi-year funding in advance by the sponsors as well as by clear corporate governance rules and by a highly qualified program committee, which not only guarantees the quality, but also for the independence of the work. In this sense, is the motto of Avenir Suisse: independent - but not neutral.

In contrast to user groups, Avenir Suisse does not participate actively in consultations or voting campaigns. Rather, the think- tank wants as early as possible contribute to the economic and socio- political opinion and thus lay the intellectual ground for the reforms that are indispensable for securing prosperity, quality of life and competitiveness. Avenir Suisse adopts a long-term, not oriented to the daily politics perspective and wants with a holistic, scientifically based approach and understandable treatment of the findings fill a gap between science, business and politics. Avenir Suisse refers either for or against a political party position and is open to all forces to shape the future constructively and in a liberal sense.

History

• In July 2000, set up 14 international Swiss company ABB, Credit Suisse Group, Groupement des bankers Privés Genevois, Jacobs Holding, Kuoni Holding, McKinsey Switzerland, Nestlé, Novartis, Hoffmann -La Roche, SAirGroup, Sulzer AG, Swiss Re, UBS and Zurich Financial Services, the " Foundation for the Future Switzerland ". Today Avenir Suisse is supported by more than 100 companies and individuals from all over Switzerland.
• In January 2001, the operational activity is recorded under the name of Avenir Suisse and headed by the Swiss sociologist Thomas Held.
• In 2004, the Board of Trustees decides to continue the activities of think tanks indefinitely. For this, the original group of founders is opened to broaden the moral and financial support of the foundation sustainable.
• On 1 November 2010 takes Gerhard Schwarz by Thomas Held the post of Director.

Organization

• The supreme organ of Avenir Suisse is the Board of Trustees, composed of 20 to 25 representatives from business, science and public life. It constitutes itself elects the President and shall appoint the chairmen and members of all committees and the director of Avenir Suisse. He also approves the budget, the annual report and the invoice.

• The Steering Committee approved the thematic priorities and monitors the project portfolio. It is composed of the President of the Foundation Board, the President of the Support Foundation and the Chairman of the Nomination Committee, the financial and the program committee. The Nomination Committee evaluates individuals for the Board of Trustees, the commissions and the management. The Finance Committee reviewed the budget and financial statements to the Board of Trustees. The Program Committee shall advise the Director and his team in the selection of topics to be treated, and he guarantees his critical accompanied the scientific quality of the projects.

• The Director has operational responsibility for the foundation. It defines the scope of the requirements, the individual projects and ensures the communication of the study results to the outside. He represents Avenir Suisse towards the public, politics, business and science. Overall, working at Avenir Suisse about 30 heads, many of them part-time.

Publications

Avenir Suisse has published the following monographs since its inception include: The Price of Federalism (2002); The solo (2002), Best Practice in School (2003), Environmental Protection Gone Wrong (2003), Prosperity without Growth ( 2004); Dart Fish, Logitech, Swissquote and Co ( 2005); Site Federalism (2005); City in Switzerland (2005); Diagnosis: weak growth (2005); Healthcare costs in an aging society (2005); Economic Policy Myths (2006); The freed Bauer ( 2006); Urban density (2007); Boom as opportunity for reform (2007); The IV - A case history ( 2007); The New Immigration (2008); Agricultural policies Myths (2008); Farewell to Justice ( 2009); The AHV - A provision with aging Blindness (2009); Upside: A Plea for a sustainable transport policy ( 2010); Sovereignty in the hardness test ( 2010); Energy security without self-sufficiency ( 2010); Concordance in Crisis (2011), Social Security secure (2011), The Value of Values ​​(2011 ); Political control sites (2012 ); More market for the Public Service (2012 ); Makeover for retirement (2012 ); The strained middle class (2012 ); Ideas for Switzerland - 44 chances to win the future ( 2013).

Regularly also discussion papers are published. The Information Bulletin " avenir currently " appears three times a year.

• Publication overview on the website of Avenir Suisse