Economy (Liechtenstein)
=======================


     Overview:
         The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and
         tourism. Industry accounts for 53% of total employment, the service sector
         45% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 2%. The sale of
         postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually. Low
         business taxes (the maximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules
         have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to
         establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated
         solely for tax purposes, provide 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied
         closely to that of Switzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living
         standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.
     GDP:
         purchasing power equivalent - $630 million, per capita $22,300; real growth
         rate NA% (1990 est.)
     Inflation rate (consumer prices):
         5.4% (1990)
     Unemployment rate:
         1.5% (1990)
     Budget:
         revenues $259 million; expenditures $292 million, including capital
         expenditures of NA (1990)
     Exports:
         $1.6 billion
       commodities:
         small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
       partners:
         EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), EC countries 42.7%, other 36.4%
         (1990)
     Imports:
         $NA
       commodities:
         machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
       partners:
         NA
     External debt:
         $NA
     Industrial production:
         growth rate NA%
     Electricity:
         23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 5,340 kWh per capita (1989)
     Industries:
         electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food
         products, precision instruments, tourism
     Agriculture:
         livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
     Economic aid:
         none
     Currency:
         Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural - francs, franken, or franchi); 1
         Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
     Exchange rates:
         Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.5079 (March 1992),
         1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987)
     Fiscal year:
         calendar year




converted with guide2html by Kochtopf