News
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.
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.
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.
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.
A collaboration with the University of Zurich.
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.
Two new publications on the postal market in Switzerland and in the United States.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A report for Bundesnetzagentur.
BNetzA published the report of Swiss Economics on benchmarking the German energy distribution system operators.
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»
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
A new publication written by Swiss Economics.
The research article «Impact of VAT-Exemptions in the Postal Sector on Competition and Welfare» by Swiss Economics and researchers from the University of Zurich shows how service providers exempted from the obligation to pay a value-added tax are favoured in competition. Further, this unequal treatment substantially affects outsourcing decisions and the labour market.
Helmut Dietl, Christian Jaag, Markus Lang, Martin Lutzenberger and Urs Trinkner (2011). «Impact of VAT-Exemptions in the Postal Sector on Competition and Welfare». In Reinventing the Postal Sector in an Electronic Age. Edited by M. Crew and P.R. Kleindorfer, Edward Elgar, pp. 267-280.
Published in the same book: Maegli Martin, Christian Jaag, Martin Koller and Urs Trinkner (2011). «Postal Markets and Electronic Substitution: Implications for Regulatory Practices and Institutions in Europe». In Reinventing the Postal Sector in an Electronic Age. Edited by M. Crew and P.R. Kleindorfer, Edward Elgar, pp. 109-122.
An article by Christian Jaag and Urs Trinkner has been published in the Journal of Regulatory Economics.
The research article «The interaction between universal service costing and financing in the postal sector: a calibrated approach» by Christian Jaag and Urs Trinkner has been published in the Journal of Regulatory Economics.
Christian Jaag gave a presentation on «Yet another case of unintended consequences: VAT exemption and the public interest» at the DG MARKT economic seminar.
The presentation illustrates the distortive effects of VAT exemptions on competition in a newly liberalized industry and how they can be included in the calculation of the net cost of universal service obligations.
Swiss Economics presented the paper «An Economic Framework to Understand and Assess Regulations in Network Industries».
Swiss Economics presented the paper «An Economic Framework to Understand and Assess Regulations in Network Industries» at the 2010 Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries.
In addition to a theoretical framework, he also presented two applications: Liberalization in network industries and the development of regulation in the postal sector.
Swiss Economics welcomes Oliver Fürst as a new staff member!
Oliver Fürst holds a Master of Arts in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Zurich. At Swiss Economics he works as a consultant for strategy and regulation in network industries.
Swiss Economics contributed three new research papers to the Conference on Trends and Innovation for the Postal Market.
Post Office Network Realignments and their Impact on Innovation
To the presentation
Postal Regulation, Declining Mail Volumes, and the Transformation of Business Models?
To the presentation
Postal markets and electronic substitution: What is the impact of intermodal competition on regulatory practices and institutions? The paper has received the «best paper award».
To the document
Swiss Economics contributed with three presentations to the 18th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics.
- Impact of VAT-Exemptions in the Postal Sector on Competition and Welfare
- Postal Markets and Electronic Substitution: What is the Impact of Convergence on Regulatory Practices and Institutions?
- Practical Approaches to USO Costing and Financing
At the «Second Annual Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries» Christian Jaag has given a presentation on «Approaches to FTTH-Regulation: An International Comparison».
Christian Jaag gave a presentation on «Approaches to FTTH-Regulation: An International Comparison» at the 2nd Annual Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries.
A presentation by Urs Trinkner.
At the «IPC Senior Executive Forum on Regulation» Urs Trinkner has given a presentation on «Shaping the USO? An Outline of Thought from an Economic Perspective».
A presentation by Christian Jaag.
At the 42nd Freiburger Verkehrsseminar, Christian Jaag gave a presentation on «Preisobergrenzen in liberalisierten Postmärkten» (in German).