New study shows savings potential in cantons

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If the Swiss cantons worked more efficiently, they would have an annual savings potential of CHF 12.9 billion. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the University of Lausanne and the company PWC.

In the study published on Monday, the five government service areas of education, culture, social affairs, public order and safety and roads were examined. Together, the selected areas would have covered the largest share of municipal and cantonal expenditure in 2020, i.e. 65 percent, according to the study.

Border cantons most efficient

In the field of public order and safety, the median of the cantons in terms of efficient handling in 2020 was 73 percent. The authors of the study analyzed the number of crimes recorded by the police, the number of convictions and the number of detainees.

A look at the average of the cantons over the past ten years shows that the Latin border cantons are the most efficient. Ticino took first place with an efficiency of 82 percent, followed by Vaud with 80 percent. Other cantons such as Zurich or Glarus have registered fluctuations in efficiency of up to 22 percent over the years.

4.6 billion in education alone

In the education system, the number of qualifications from basic vocational training to the final secondary school exam was evaluated. The average efficiency was 80 percent. The canton of Graubünden took first place with 90 percent. With savings of up to 4.6 billion Swiss francs in terms of efficient processing, the greatest potential would lie in the education system.

In the field of social affairs, the ratio of social expenditure to residents, recipients and the number of reintegrations has been measured. In this category, urban cantons with a high population density, a higher cost of living and a high proportion of foreigners are at the bottom, according to the survey.

With a value of 93 percent, Ticino was the most efficient in this area. In total, there is an improvement potential of approximately CHF 2.9 billion through increased efficiency in all cantons. In the road sector there is another CHF 2.3 billion and there is also great potential in the cultural sector with CHF 1.1 billion.

However, the study’s authors from the University of Lausanne and PWC also wrote that the full CHF 12.9 billion improvement potential can hardly be fully exploited due to various topographical and socio-demographic contextual factors. (SDA/sq)

Source:Blick