5 ms·

I would say that the food is expensive in Switzerland because they want to strengthen their farmers and national food industry. Switzerland is topographically

I would say that the food is expensive in Switzerland because they want to strengthen their farmers and national food industry. Switzerland is topographically not really great for farming (high mountains, no big flat areas, not enough warmth), so they have some disadvantages there. All countries surrounding Switzerland are part of the EU, so there are cheap farming products in the shops. I am living on the border to Switzerland and it is crazy what meat costs in Switzerland compared to Austria. You are not allowed to import much meat, so you have to buy it in Switzerland if you live there.

Kurtz79 10y ago
Interesting, I always assumed there would be no protection laws as it has free trade agreements with the EU, but there are actually exceptions (from Wikipedia). "The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organisation and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.[1] The organisation operates in parallel with the European Union (EU), and all four member states participate in the EU's single market.[2] ... It allows the EFTA-EEA states to participate in the EU's Internal Market without being members of the EU. They adopt almost all EU legislation related to the single market, except laws on agriculture and fisheries. "
- brusch64 10y ago
  The differences are really staggering. Comparing the prices of 1kg of minced meat Austria 5€ Switzerland 9.5 CHF (8.73€)