Migration Processes in Switzerland: Evolution and Retrospective Analysis

Switzerland has maintained its economic stability and a high percentage of immigration for a long time. Thousands of immigrants annually seek to obtain a residence permit in Switzerland, but today it is quite difficult to get such an opportunity, and in some cases, it is almost impossible if the migrant is not from EU countries. Swiss economic independence and its one of the best economic indicators in the world are closely linked to the fact that for many centuries it was immigration flows that contributed to the development of the Swiss Confederation, whose political neutrality, economic well-being, and protection of its citizens are so valued all over the world. The Swiss welfare State receives economic benefits from immigration since, as a rule, arriving migrants are younger than the host society and often have higher qualifications. In addition, they are energetic, hardworking, and more likely to work full-time than locals. In this paper, a retrospective analysis of migration processes in Switzerland in the period from ancient times to the end of the XX century will be carried out, immigration processes and some aspects of Swiss migration policy will be more affected since it was the foreign population that contributed to the development and formation of the modern Swiss state.

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