Economic freedom

Economic freedom is a central Swiss fundamental right for persons and businesses. It protects the choice and exercise of a private economic activity, access to markets, free competition in principle and entrepreneurial organisation. The state may regulate professions, protect consumers, workers, health, the environment or public order, and pursue social policy. Restrictions must rest on a legal basis, serve a public interest and be proportionate. Measures that distort competition in favour of certain private actors require particular justification.