On Zurich’s Power and Millions, or: Why are we actually so rich?

The Department of History at the University of Zurich in dialogue with the Swiss Finance Museum

Zurich regularly ranks amongst the world’s most expensive cities. But it is also one of the richest – that is, one with the highest quality of life as well as the highest density of millionaires. Why is this actually the case, given that – as a result of poverty – fewer than 150 years ago more people were emigrating from here than immigrating? How did Zurich become one of the world’s most important financial centres? How did we once compensate for our lack of natural resources? What does neutrality have to do with all this? What about ETH Zurich, sport or the art market? And what are likely to be the best financial investments of the future? And what are likely to be the best financial investments of the future?

How have ETH Zurich, sport and the art market contributed to today’s prosperity? Tobias Straumann, Professor of Economic History at the University of Zurich, and Andrea Weidemann, Director of the Swiss Finance Museum, will be discussing these topics in our exhibition at the Swiss National Museum – drawing on artefacts spanning 5,000 years of Zurich’s history.

The event is part of the ‘Kantonsgeschichten’ series: here, Einfach Zürich showcases institutions that also communicate Zurich’s history and brings them together to discuss a topical issue.

Registration via the website of ‘Einfach Zürich’.