Investment Survey

Qualitative Investment Survey

Swiss investments in fixed assets are subject to major cyclical fluctuations and strongly influence changes in the GDP. For this reason, two surveys are devoted to exploring the investment behaviour of Swiss companies: the qualitative and quantitative KOF investment survey.

The results of the qualitative investment survey are presented on the occasion of a lecture at the KOF Economic Forum and serve as a setting for guest lectures. In addition to the publications in a detailed survey report, the survey results are published as documentation based on a PowerPoint presentation.

Participation

The questionnaire can be answered online at http://survey.kof.ethz.ch/. You will need a user code and personal password which will be sent to you after registration. You can test the online survey without obligation.

Quantitative KOF Investment Survey

A comprehensive survey of investment data at industry level is not conducted in Switzerland. However, these figures are estimated by the KOF as part of the quantitative investment survey on the basis of a forward projection. The investment volumes for each year are polled three times (as a data projection, as a provisional figure and as a definitive investment volume based on the accounting records; cf. quantitative investment survey questionnaire). Experience has shown that the results remain very volatile right up until their final assessment. The sector-specific forward projections that are made on the basis of this survey are provided to the Federal Department for Economic Affairs (SECO) for structural reporting and to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) for the structural classification of the investments.

The quantitative survey is conducted in conjunction with the value added statistics (VAS) of the Federal Statistical Office and is sent in the first half of the year under review. The sample for the financial sector (banks and insurances) that is not covered by the VAS is determined by the KOF. Around 500 companies from all sectors of the economy participate in the survey.