Switzerland, Economy and Culture: Straumann’s Analysis and Vivian Suter’s Art

New agreements with the European Union: Risks and Challenges

Economic historian Tobias Straumann warns about the risks of Switzerland’s new agreements with the European Union. According to him, these agreements could lead to a loss of political sovereignty, with long-term negative effects on the country’s economy.

Straumann highlights that Swiss economic policy would become less decentralized, less pragmatic, and less democratic. He also argues that every interest group would find unacceptable points in the agreements, making popular approval highly unlikely.

From an economic standpoint, Straumann questions the alleged benefits: the EU single market is largely a fiction, and the loss of privileged access would only affect specific sectors, without major structural consequences.

Immigration and the labor market

A central issue, according to Straumann, is the management of immigration. He suggests reducing the annual inflow to around 50,000 people, compared to today’s much higher levels. Strong immigration, he argues, puts pressure on housing, transport, and public services, while also increasing competition in the job market—especially in universities and the public sector.

For him, Switzerland should negotiate patiently, maintain the Bilateral Agreements I, and preserve the strategic flexibility that defines the Swiss model, rather than automatically giving in to external EU pressures.

Art and culture: Vivian Suter and the Disco series

Parallel to the economic and political debate, artist Vivian Suter presents her lithograph series Disco (2024), currently on view at the MAAT Museum in Lisbon. The series pays tribute to her dog and combines the traditional technique of stone lithography with a physical, expressive painting process.

Disco I & II: 114 × 80 cm, edition of 35, CHF 1,500 each

Disco III: 43 × 53 cm, edition of 35, CHF 800

Complete set: CHF 3,500

Born in Buenos Aires and based in Guatemala, Suter rose to international attention after participating in Documenta 14 (2017). For her, lithography represents an art of the moment, where every stroke is definitive and leaves no room for correction.

Conclusion

Between politics and culture, Switzerland’s current moment is complex and multifaceted. While the debate on agreements with the EU raises questions of sovereignty, immigration, and the economy, artists like Vivian Suter reaffirm Switzerland’s presence in the global contemporary art scene.