News
New Team Members and Promotions
Seline Spillmann joins our team as Economist. Her focus is on data analysis in various topics as well as labor economics. Among other things, she is active in the fields of competition economics and health. In her master she studied economics at the University of Zurich with a focus on econometrics. During her studies, she worked as a Research Assistant in the area of globalization and labor markets at the University of Zurich.
Elena Zarković joins us as an analyst. She studied economics and business administration in her bachelor's at the University of St. Gallen, where she also earned an additional certificate in Data Science Fundamentals. During her studies, she worked as a research assistant at the Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research at the University of St. Gallen.
Maida Sabotic joins the Swiss Economics team as an Economist. Her areas of expertise include economic policy and data analysis. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics, Politics and History from the University of Zurich as well as Master's degree in Economics and Data Science. During her studies she worked at the Institute of Economics at the University of Zurich. After her Master's degree, she completed an internship in economic development cooperation at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Leah Meyer de Stadelhofen joins our team as an Economist, focusing on behavioral economics, industrial economics and data analysis. Her areas of expertise include regulation, environmental economics, and energy. In addition, Leah joins our Romandie department and is thus involved in the development of Swiss Economics in French-speaking Switzerland and France. She holds a Master in Economics from the University of Lausanne with a specialization in Behavior, Economics, and Evolution. During her studies, she worked as a Teaching Assistant in Microeconomics.
We congratulate all of them and wish them much success and joy in their new activities for Swiss Economics.
Our latest Swiss Economics update elaborates on the opportunities virtual currencies present to the postal sector.
Virtual currencies like Bitcoin are progressively gaining in popularity. However, limited availability still preempts their broad usage. Postal operators with their spatially comprehensive physical presence could play a key role in providing easy, quick and nationwide access to these alternative currencies. The postal network thus constitutes a natural bridge between the virtual and the physical worlds.
Swiss Economics welcomes Dr. Christian Bach as a new staff member!
Christian Bach is a Project Manager with Swiss Economics and lectures at the EpiCenter, Maastricht University. He is an expert in game theory and works in network industries, regulation and on virtual currencies. After his studies of economics and philosophy, he received a Ph.D. in game theory from HEC Lausanne and Maastricht University. Christian Bach was a postdoctoral fellow at Maastricht University, and a visiting scholar at NYU Stern School of Business.
New publication on price regulation and the financing of Universal Service Obligations.
This article explores the complementary roles of price regulation and universal service regulation in network industries The analysis shows that current practices of costing and financing universal services may result in unintended market distortions. The article quantifies these effects and demonstrates how such distortions can be avoided.
Swiss Economics' update for May 2013.
E-commerce is an important growth area for postal operators. In its update, Swiss Economics analyzes and discusses the risks and opportunities associated with maintaining or even extending the regulation of e-commerce.
Three new publications on consumer preferences, termination charges, and social cost of regulation.
How to better measure consumer preferences in the postal market? How to set international parcel termination charges? What is the social cost of regulation in the postal sector? In the recently published book «Reforming the Postal Sector in the Face of Electronic Competition» by Prof. M. Crew and Prof. P. Kleindorfer, three papers by members of Swiss Economics have been included that address these questions.
Presentation at the 2nd European Postal Regulation Forum on the regulation of e-commerce.
Presentation at the 3rd IEEE Smart Grid World Forum on the regulation of smart grids.
Urs Trinkner was asked by the 3rd IEEE Smart Grid World Forum to address the regulation of smart grids in an introduction and a panel discussion.
A presentation by Sonia Strube Martins.
At the 5th Annual Competition and Regulation in Network Industries Conference in Brussels, Sonia Strube Martins presented a paper on Integrated timetables for railway passenger transport services.
A presentation by Christian Jaag.
At the 3rd Annual Trends in Innovation in the Postal Market Conference, Christian Jaag presented a new research paper on the interplay of universal service obligations and patents in network industries.
Swiss Economics contributed new research papers to the 20th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics.
Swiss Economics contributed the following new research papers to the 20th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics:
- Defining and Financing an Intermodal USO
- Competition and the Social Cost of Regulation in the Postal Sector
- Termination Charges in the International Parcel Market
- Measuring Consumer Preferences for Postal Services
All publications are available here.
Swiss Economics welcomes Dr. Sonia Strube Martins as a new staff member!
Swiss Economics' update for February 2012.
The convergence of physical letter mail and electronic substitutes challenges postal operators and the regulatory framework alike. In its update, Swiss Economics analyzes and discusses the economic context.
A presentation by Christian Jaag.
At the Post-Expo 2011, World Postal Business Forum Christian Jaag gave a presentation on «The role of the universal service obligation in postal competition».
The Review of Network Economics published a new article on the financing of universal service obligations.
The paper «What is an Unfair Burden? Compensating the Net Cost of Universal Service Provision» by Christian Jaag appeared in the Review of Network Economics. It discusses the net cost of universal service obligations and the potential burden they represent on the universal service provider. Specifically, it analyzes the situation in the postal sector after full liberalization.
The paper considers various interpretations of what an unfair burden might be and discusses the competitive impact of corresponding compensation scenarios by means of a stylized theoretical model with endogenous entry and coverage decisions.
Two new presentations on defending markets and adapting the USO in a future-oriented way.
«Defending Mail Markets against New Entrants»
To the slides
«Future of USO - Economic rationale for universal services and implications for a future-oriented definition of universal service obligations»
To the slides
Job opening: Swiss Economics is looking for a passionate and exceptional economist.
Swiss Economics is looking for a passionate and exceptional economist with the capability to apply the most recent microeconomic concepts and to find pragmatic and robust solutions to complex problems. You are aiming at earning a doctorate to deepen your knowledge in industrial and regulatory economics and looking for an exciting career start opportunity in economic consultancy.
We are looking forward to receiving your CV and cover letter.
Our latest Swiss Economics update elaborates on the opportunities virtual currencies present to the postal sector.
Virtual currencies like Bitcoin are progressively gaining in popularity. However, limited availability still preempts their broad usage. Postal operators with their spatially comprehensive physical presence could play a key role in providing easy, quick and nationwide access to these alternative currencies. The postal network thus constitutes a natural bridge between the virtual and the physical worlds.
Swiss Economics welcomes Dr. Christian Bach as a new staff member!
Christian Bach is a Project Manager with Swiss Economics and lectures at the EpiCenter, Maastricht University. He is an expert in game theory and works in network industries, regulation and on virtual currencies. After his studies of economics and philosophy, he received a Ph.D. in game theory from HEC Lausanne and Maastricht University. Christian Bach was a postdoctoral fellow at Maastricht University, and a visiting scholar at NYU Stern School of Business.
New publication on price regulation and the financing of Universal Service Obligations.
This article explores the complementary roles of price regulation and universal service regulation in network industries The analysis shows that current practices of costing and financing universal services may result in unintended market distortions. The article quantifies these effects and demonstrates how such distortions can be avoided.
Swiss Economics' update for May 2013.
E-commerce is an important growth area for postal operators. In its update, Swiss Economics analyzes and discusses the risks and opportunities associated with maintaining or even extending the regulation of e-commerce.
Three new publications on consumer preferences, termination charges, and social cost of regulation.
How to better measure consumer preferences in the postal market? How to set international parcel termination charges? What is the social cost of regulation in the postal sector? In the recently published book «Reforming the Postal Sector in the Face of Electronic Competition» by Prof. M. Crew and Prof. P. Kleindorfer, three papers by members of Swiss Economics have been included that address these questions.
Presentation at the 2nd European Postal Regulation Forum on the regulation of e-commerce.
Presentation at the 3rd IEEE Smart Grid World Forum on the regulation of smart grids.
Urs Trinkner was asked by the 3rd IEEE Smart Grid World Forum to address the regulation of smart grids in an introduction and a panel discussion.
A presentation by Sonia Strube Martins.
At the 5th Annual Competition and Regulation in Network Industries Conference in Brussels, Sonia Strube Martins presented a paper on Integrated timetables for railway passenger transport services.
A presentation by Christian Jaag.
At the 3rd Annual Trends in Innovation in the Postal Market Conference, Christian Jaag presented a new research paper on the interplay of universal service obligations and patents in network industries.
Swiss Economics contributed new research papers to the 20th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics.
Swiss Economics contributed the following new research papers to the 20th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics:
- Defining and Financing an Intermodal USO
- Competition and the Social Cost of Regulation in the Postal Sector
- Termination Charges in the International Parcel Market
- Measuring Consumer Preferences for Postal Services
All publications are available here.
Swiss Economics welcomes Dr. Sonia Strube Martins as a new staff member!
Swiss Economics' update for February 2012.
The convergence of physical letter mail and electronic substitutes challenges postal operators and the regulatory framework alike. In its update, Swiss Economics analyzes and discusses the economic context.
A presentation by Christian Jaag.
At the Post-Expo 2011, World Postal Business Forum Christian Jaag gave a presentation on «The role of the universal service obligation in postal competition».
The Review of Network Economics published a new article on the financing of universal service obligations.
The paper «What is an Unfair Burden? Compensating the Net Cost of Universal Service Provision» by Christian Jaag appeared in the Review of Network Economics. It discusses the net cost of universal service obligations and the potential burden they represent on the universal service provider. Specifically, it analyzes the situation in the postal sector after full liberalization.
The paper considers various interpretations of what an unfair burden might be and discusses the competitive impact of corresponding compensation scenarios by means of a stylized theoretical model with endogenous entry and coverage decisions.
Two new presentations on defending markets and adapting the USO in a future-oriented way.
«Defending Mail Markets against New Entrants»
To the slides
«Future of USO - Economic rationale for universal services and implications for a future-oriented definition of universal service obligations»
To the slides
Job opening: Swiss Economics is looking for a passionate and exceptional economist.
Swiss Economics is looking for a passionate and exceptional economist with the capability to apply the most recent microeconomic concepts and to find pragmatic and robust solutions to complex problems. You are aiming at earning a doctorate to deepen your knowledge in industrial and regulatory economics and looking for an exciting career start opportunity in economic consultancy.
We are looking forward to receiving your CV and cover letter.