- Economic Prosperity is a direct result of individual enterprise and creativity applied to business in an environment of social well-being. Direct Democracy, more than any other social/political system, opens the way for creative individuals to flourish and to spread their enterprise into the marketplace and society. Everyone benefits from the positive results of creative entrepreneurship.
- Switzerland is an outstanding example of a modern society where the Swiss attribute their social well-being and economic prosperity to the political and social arrangements which flower under Representative Democracy. Swiss citizens control their nation through the vote and in turn politics supports people’s success in business.
- Direct Democracy brings the People, the politicians and personal activity within the focus of a shared national purpose. The Swiss economy displays increased efficiency, improved processes and abundant positive outcomes, when compared to countries dominated by Political Party maneuvering and sector interest pressures.
- A citizen-friendly democracy minimizes red-tape and bureaucracy which are impediments to business efficiency. In addition, citizens have the means to control business activities and to protect their environment and society as necessary.
- The following chart illustrates the economic and social differences between New Zealand and Switzerland and the principal cause is individual creativity released by the political/social arrangements:
Some insightful comparisons between Switzerland and New Zealand
Key Indicator | Switzerland | New Zealand |
Population in 2019 | 8,570,000 | 4,800,000 |
Gross Domestic Production per person | $USD80,000 (2nd highest in the world) | $USD37,000 |
Average Gross wages and salaries per worker | $USD62,500 | $USD42,300 = $NZD52,000 |
Foreign Currency Reserves in 2019 | $USD790 Billion | $USD29.6Billion |
Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 4.4% |
Infant Mortality | 3.5 deaths/1000 live births (2017) | 4.3 deaths/1000 live births (2015) |
Obesity | 41.8% aged 15 years and over (2017) | 66.8% aged 15 years and over (2018) |
Health Spend per Person | $USD7317 | $USD3923 |
Note: Switzerland’s area is 20% of New Zealand with nearly twice our population. It has 26 mini states/regions and 2900 municipalities, all governed by the principles of Direct Democracy.
These keynote comparisons above show how Switzerland is a prosperous, healthy nation with better capability to care for its citizens than New Zealand.