BBC: As the crisis in the eurozone continues, many Europeans are wondering whether the single currency, and even the European Union (EU) itself, were ever really good ideas.
Some are looking towards Switzerland, which has stayed out of the EU and the euro but maintains close ties with Brussels, as a better example of how to protect the national economy while still enjoying the benefits of Europe's trade markets.
The Swiss continue to enjoy high salaries and a high standard of living and Switzerland's major cities regularly make the top ten list of best places to live.
What's more, Switzerland's welfare and social services remain relatively generous, with little sign of the austerity measures currently being introduced in many EU member states.
But Swiss economists say the picture is not as simple, and certainly not as rosy, as that.
"The Swiss economy is very integrated in the European market," explained Rudolf Minsch, chief economist at the Swiss Business Federation.
"Our enterprises are really dependent on what happens in the European market.
"About half of our exports are going to the eurozone, close to 60% to the EU, so once there is a recession in Europe this is a drawback for the Swiss economy. We are probably falling into a recession in Switzerland, too." » | Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Zurich | Thursday, December 29, 2011
