BAK Basel Economics AG (BAKBASEL) is a private and independent economic re-search institute based in Basel, Switzerland and provides since 1980 economic analyses, forecasts and economic consulting services on an empirical and quantitative level. The research focus lies primarily on macroeconomic as well as industry- and region-specific issues, from both a cyclical and structural perspective. Benchmarking studies particularly deal with international comparisons of location quality and economic policy issues. Clients are supranational institutions, regional and national governments and ministries, public administrations, associations, foundations and companies.