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Dr. Samuel Rutz

Vice Director

samuel.rutz@swiss-economics.ch

+41 44 597 97 43 (office)

+41 79 204 78 83 (mobile)

LinkedIn

Biography

Samuel Rutz specialises in competition matters with a focus on antitrust law. After receiving his doctoral degree at the University of Zurich, Samuel worked for nearly ten years for the Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) – first as a research assistant, then as chief economist and as a member of the extended executive board. In his role as a Chief Economist, he was involved in countless antitrust proceedings and he was responsible for the quality management of ComCo’s decisions as well as the development and implementation of best practices. Further, he supported the case teams and the executive management with advice and  represented ComCo in international affairs. Samuel published several articles in the field of competition policy. Before joining Swiss Economics in 2015 Samuel worked as Vice Director for the Think Tank "Avenir Suisse". Until mid-2024 was a part-time Senior Fellow at Avenir Suisse.

Work Experience

  • Managing Director of the Association for Competition Economics (2021 -
  • Deputy Managing Director and Director of the Department for Competition Economics, Swiss Economics (2019 –)
  • Project Manager, Swiss Economics (2017 - 2018)
  • Senior Fellow, Avenir Suisse (2016 – 2024)
  • Consultant, Swiss Economics (2015 – 2016)
  • Vice Director, Avenir Suisse (2012 – 2015)
  • Chief Economist, Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission (2006 – 2012)
  • Senior Economist, Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission (2003 – 2005)
  • Research Assistant, ETHZ (1998 – 2002)

Education

  • Ph.D. in Economics (Dr. oec. publ.), University of Zurich (2002)
  • Swiss Program for Beginning Doctoral Students in Economics, Study Center Gerzensee (1999)
  • Lic. oec. publ., University of Zurich (1997)
  • "Cours de Civilisation", Université de la Sorbonne, Paris (1991)

 

Expertise

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Projects (selection)

  • International developments in ESG and their impact on Swiss SME (2024).

    Increasingly comprehensive rules on sustainability reporting and due diligence apply in the EU. What does this mean for Switzerland and its SMEs?  

  • Regulatory impact assessment on centralisations in trade surveillance (2024). What are the economic effects of centralisations for reporting offices and trade monitoring in the Swiss financial centre? Client: State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF).  
  • Study on housing allowances (2023 – 2024). How could housing allowances be organised throughout Switzerland? Client: Verband Immobilien Schweiz (VIS).  
  • Economic support in the merger of UBS and CS (2023). Economic support of the legal team in the merger proceedings of the two major Swiss banks before FINMA.  
  • Impact of TV broadcasting licenses on the program and opinion diversity (2023). How will the reallocation of broadcaster licenses for regional television affect the program and opinion diversity? Client: AZ Regionalfernsehen AG.  
  • Legal protection for journalistic content on the internet (2022 – 2023). On behalf of the Institute of Intellectual Property, Swiss Economics conducted a regulatory impact assessment on the introduction of legal protection for journalistic services on the internet.

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  • Geographical market analysis for a merger in the retail market (2022). What is the geographical extent of retail markets?  
  • Economic and social significance of the EVZ (2022 – 2023). What is the economic and social significance of the EVZ in the Zug region? Client: EV Zug.  
  • Study on Blockchain and Intellectual property (2022). How can blockchain technology make IP processes more secure, transparent and efficient? Client: Institut für Geistiges Eigentum (IGE).
  • Economic analysis of the partial revision of the RTVO (2022 – 2021). Is the partial revision of the Radio and Television Ordinance (RTVO) economically justified and sensible? Client: CH Media Holding AG.  
  • Study on regulating interchange fees of Debit- and Credit Cards (2021). Is there a need for regulation in the area of interchange fees in the wake of the rapid growth of new debit cards? Client: Verband elektronischer Zahlungsverkehr.  
  • Economic Assessment of Climate Change Measures and Strategies (2021). How effective and efficient are cantonal climate measures and strategies? Client: Amt für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (AWA) des Kantons Zürich.  
  • Regulatory impact assessment on critical energy infrastructure (2021). What are the implications of making critical Swiss energy infrastructure subject to "Lex Koller"? Client: Bundesamt für Energie (BFE).  
  • Effectiveness of COVID-19 measures in the second wave (2021 – 2022).
    Which measures taken by the Federal Council and the cantons were effective during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Switzerland and how?
    Client: Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft (SECO).  
  • Protection against terrorism and pandemic risks (2021 – 2022). How can the German economy be protected against the systemic risks of terrorism and pandemics? Client: German Federal Ministry of Finance.  
  • SwissCovid App and testing behavior in the corona pandemic (2021). How can notified users of the SwissCovid App be motivated to get tested? Client: Bundesamt für Gesundheit.  
  • Effectiveness and costs of corona measures and optimal level of intervention (2020 – 2021). How effective are non-pharmaceutical measures in containing the coronavirus and how high are the costs of specific measures? Client: Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft (SECO).  
  • Assessment of economic effects from UPC - Sunrise merger (2020). Update on the economic assessment of effects from the merger between UPC and Sunrise in the light of the reversed acquisition intention of UPC, following Sunrise's withdrawal of its own bid   Client: Sunrise.  
  • Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (2020). How effective are non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus? Client: State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.  
  • The Effects of the Corona Crisis on the regional Strategy of the Canton of Solothurn (2020). How does the regional strategy of the Canton of Solothurn need to be adjusted following the Corona crisis? Client: Wirtschaftsförderung Kanton Solothurn.  
  • Antitrust-compliant pricing (2019). Assessment of the antitrust-compliance of a new pricing model in the energy sector  
  • Regulatory Impact Assessment on a cost target for the OKP (2019 – 2021). What is the impact of a cost target on the development of the costs of mandatory health care insurance (OKP)? Client: Federal Office of Public Health and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.  
  • Regulatory impact assessment of different strategies for Bedag (2019). How do the different strategic options for Bedag Information AG need to be assessed? Client: Finanzdirektion des Kantons Bern.  
  • Assessment of unilateral effects in the context of a merger (2019). Assessment of unilateral effects in the context of a merger for a professional association.  
  • Assessment of economic effects from the UPC - Sunrise merger (2018 – 2019). Assessment of the effects from the merger between Sunrise and UPC on competition, including analysis of coordinated and non-coordinated effects. Client: Sunrise.  
  • "Regulation brake" and regulation benchmarking (2017 – 2018). Can regulatory benchmarking contribute to "Better Regulation"?  
  • Non-discriminatory pricing (2017). Assessment and design of a pricing model in compliance with antitrust law in the advertising industry.  
  • Partial privatization of a state-owned enterprise (2017). When and under what conditions does it make sense to privatise public companies?  
  • Introducing the SIEC test in Switzerland: Impact on merger control (2017). Is the dominance test currently used in Switzerland for merger control still up to date? Client: Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft, SECO.  

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Publications (selection)

  • Wüthrich Felix, Marosvölgyi Beatrix, Rutz Samuel, Hafner Matthias (2023). Study about DLT and the Swiss IP ecosystem. IGE.  
  • Mattmann Matteo, Rutz Samuel, Funk Michael, Eschenbaum Nicolas, Marosvölgyi Beatrix (2023). Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Introduction of Legal Protection for Journalistic Content on the Internet. Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).  
  • Rutz Samuel und Bonato Mario (2022). Die etwas andere Freiheit. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Funk Michael, Wüthrich Felix, de Luze Romain, Jenal Larissa, Rutz Samuel, Schelker Mark (2022). Effectiveness of Corona measures in Switzerland. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2022). Braucht die Schweiz ein Beihilferecht? Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht, 2/2022, S. 93.
  • Rutz Samuel (2022). Die Schweiz - das Land der Subventionen. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.

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  • Rutz Samuel und Bonato Mario (2021). Der Löwe im "Sleep Mode". Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Mattmann Matteo und Slembeck Tilman (2021). Health care system: strengthening cost responsibility by setting targets. Die Volkswirtschaft, 12/2021, S. 61.
  • Rutz Samuel, Matteo Mattmann, Melanie Häner, Tilman Slembeck (2021). Regulatory Impact Assessment on cost targets. .  
  • Urs Trinkner, Rutz Samuel, Melanie Häner, Mattmann Matteo, Larissa Jenal (2021). Regulatory impact assessment on critical energy infrastructure. .  
  • Rutz Samuel und Sturny Monique (2021). 25 Jahre Kartellgesetz – Preisabreden und Marktabschottungen. Jusletter 11. Oktober 2021.
  • Rutz Samuel, Farman Darius und Cosandey Jérôme (2021). Den Erfolg der Schweizer Industrie weiterführen - Den Strukturwandel nutzen, nicht bekämpfen. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Mattmann Matteo, Funk Michael und Jeandupeux David (2021). Effectiveness and costs of corona measures and optimal level of intervention. Study commissioned by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.  
  • Grünenfelder Peter, Rühli Lukas, Rutz Samuel, Cosandey Jérôme, Salvi Marco (2021). Trade-offs bei der Pandemiebekämpfung - Die unbeantworteten Fragen zum Lockdown. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Trinkner Urs, Funk Michael und Häner Melanie (2021). Universal services and state-owned enterprises in Liechtenstein. Report for Zukunft.li.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2020). Wirkungslose Konjunkturpolitik - Weshalb Corona-Soforthilfen für die Schweiz ausreichen. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel and Christian Jaag (2020). Fair Price Initiative: More industrial than competition policy. Die Volkswirtschaft, 7/2020, S. ….
  • Rutz Samuel, Mattmann Matteo, Crede Ann-Kathrin, Funk Michael, Siffert Anja und Häner Melanie (2020). Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Grundlagen für die Wirtschaftspolitik, No. 15, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).  
  • Binz Tobias, Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2020). Competition law and Corona crisis: Assessment of international reactions. Oekonomenstimme.
  • Grünenfelder Peter, Cosandey Jérôme, Dümmler Patrick, Müller Jürg, Rühli Lukas, Rutz Samuel, Salvi Marco, Schnell Fabian und Ammann Matthias (2020). Fahrplan für den Corona-Exit - Für die stufenweise Wiedereröffnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Grünenfelder Peter, Cosandey Jérôme, Dümmler Patrick, Rühli Lukas, Rutz Samuel und Salvi Marco (2020). Mehr Freiheit für die Unternehmen zur Bekämpfung der Corona-Pandemie. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Grünenfelder Peter, Cosandey Jérôme, Dümmler Patrick, Müller Jürg, Rutz Samuel, Salvi Marco und Schnell Fabian (2020). Wirtschaftspolitische Antworten auf die Corona-Krise. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Dümmler Patrick und Rutz Samuel (2019). Was wäre, wenn die Schweizer Klimapolitik nur im Inland umgesetzt wird? in: Grünenfelder P. und Müller J. (Hrsg.), Was wäre, wenn... 13 mögliche Entwicklungen und ihre Konsequenzen für die Schweiz. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel (2019). Was wäre, wenn beim Service public plötzlich alle wie die heute 20-Jährigen konsumieren? in: Grünenfelder P. und Müller J. (Hrsg.), Was wäre, wenn... 13 mögliche Entwicklungen und ihre Konsequenzen für die Schweiz. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Grünenfelder Peter, Rother Natanael, Rutz Samuel, Salvi Marco (Herausgeber) (2019). Inequality - An International Think Tank Report on Inequality and Equality. Zurich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Funk Michael, Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2019). Gefährdete Kohärenz im Kartellrecht. Zeitschrift für Immaterialgüter-, Informations- und Wettbewerbsrecht (sic!), 5/2019, S. 304-306.  
  • Rutz Samuel, Trinkner Urs (2019). Economics of Water. Die Volkswirtschaft, 6/2019, S. 4-7.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2019). Postalische Grundversorgung im digitalen Zeitalter - Den Service public neu denken. Zurich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Bonato Mario, Rutz Samuel (2018). Geoblocking – kein Regulierungsbedarf. Handelszeitung.
  • Binz Tobias, Rutz Samuel (2018). Fusionskontrolle modernisieren. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.  
  • Imhof David, Karagök Yavuz, Rutz Samuel (2018). Screening for Bid Rigging - Does it Work? Journal of Competition Law & Economics, Volume 14 (2), pp 235-261.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2018). Paradebeispiel für eine nutzlose Regulierung. Finanz und Wirtschaft.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2018). Wo liegen die Grenzen der Märkte? Schweizer Monat, Sonderpublikation 37.
  • Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2018). Wettbewerbspolitik auf Abwegen. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.  
  • Cosandea Jérôme, Roten Noémie, Rutz Samuel (2018). Gesunde Spitalpolitik – Mehr Transparenz, mehr Patientensouveränität, weniger «Kantönligeist». Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Jaag Christian, Jacober Noëmi, Rutz Samuel (2017). Einführung des SIEC-Tests: Auswirkungen auf die Schweizer Fusionskontrolle. Study for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).  
  • Funk Michael, Rutz Samuel (2017). Ungleichbehandlung im Wettbewerbsrecht. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.  
  • Rutz Samuel (2017). PostFinance est prête pour la privatisation. L’AGEFI.
  • Rutz Samuel (2017). Lex Booking: Aushebelung des Kartellrechts. Handelszeitung.
  • Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2017). Zukunft des Postsektors – Folklore oder Fortschritt? Neue Zürcher Zeitung.  
  • Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2017). Digitales Wettbewerbsrecht ist überflüssig. Die Volkswirtschaft, 10-2017, pp. 58-59.  
  • Dümmler Patrick, Rutz Samuel (2017). Energiepolitik – Monopole schaden den Konsumenten. Handelszeitung.
  • Rutz Samuel (2017). Elektronische Handelsplattformen. in: Hochreutener I., W. Stoffel und M. Amstutz (Hrsg.), 8. Tagung zum Wettbewerbsrecht – Grundlegende Fragen, Growth Publisher Law, Bern.
  • Jaag Christian, Rutz Samuel (2016). Rechtsprechung wider die ökonomische Logik. Finanz und Wirtschaft.
  • Brown Martin, Rutz Samuel (2016). Zinsregulierungen taugen kaum zur Schuldenprävention. NZZ online and Ökonomenstimme.
  • Rutz Samuel (2016). Was unser Service public wirklich braucht, ist eine Fitnesskur. NZZ am Sonntag.
  • Rutz Samuel (2016). Das Zerrbild des wehrlosen Konsumenten. Die Volkswirtschaft, Volume 4-2016, p. 35.
  • Rutz Samuel (2016). Das Märchen vom Tafelsilber – Eine Privatisierungsagenda für die Schweiz. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel (2015). Der Verzicht auf Wachstum ist keine Lösung. Die Volkswirtschaft, Volume 1-2-2015, p.33.
  • Rutz Samuel (2015). Gefährdete Konsumentenfreiheit – Wie die heutigen und morgigen Konsummöglichkeiten beschränkt werden. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Schmid Lukas (2015). Von neuen und alten Pfründen – Wie die Kantone Monopole stützen statt Märkte fördern. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Schwarz Gerhard (2014). Sind wir wohlstandsmüde? Schweiz am Sonntag.
  • Hämmerli Marion, Rutz Samuel (2014). Welches ist der freiste Kanton im Land? Schweizer Monat, Sonderpublikation 19.
  • Rutz Samuel (2014). Von Pfründen und Privilegien. Schweizer Monat, Sonderpublikation 19.
  • Rutz Samuel (2014). Zu laxe Meldepflicht für kleine Fusionen? Ökonomenstimme.
  • Karagök Yavuz, Rutz Samuel (2014). Towards Optimal Merger Notification Regimes: Evidence from Switzerland. Journal of Antitrust Enforcement, Volume 2(2), pp. 1-34.
  • Bischofberger Alois, Rutz Samuel, Walser Rudolf (2014). Subsidiarity Wherever Possible, Solidarity Where Needed. The Future of European Integration: A Reform Call.
  • Bischofberger Alois, Rutz Samuel, Walser Rudolf (2014). Mehr Subsidiarität statt falscher Solidarität – Ein Aufruf zu Reformen in der EU. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel (2014). Der Mythos der kleinen Schweiz. Ökonomenstimme.
  • Rutz Samuel, Schwarz Gerhard (2013). Wachstum – ein natürliches Phänomen. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  • Rutz Samuel (2013). Personenfreizügigkeit im Spannungsfeld zwischen Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Politik. Die Volkswirtschaft, Volume 6-2013, p.37.
  • Hämnmerli Marion, Rutz Samuel (2013). Der Avenir-Suisse-Freiheitsindex – Ein interaktiver An-satz für den Vergleich der zivilen und ökonomischen Freiheit in den Schweizer Kantonen. Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel, Schwarz Gerhard (2013). Wachstum – ein natürliches Phänomen. Wirtschaftspolitische Blätter, Volume 3, pp. 413-422.
  • Rutz Samuel (2013). Unangemessene Preise? - Preisregulierungen als ordnungspolitische «ultima ratio». Zürich: Avenir Suisse.
  • Rutz Samuel (2011). Applying the Theory of Small Economies and Competition Policy: The Case of Switzerland. Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Volume 13(2), pp. 255-272.
  • Rutz Samuel (2010). Interchange Fees as a Mechanism to Raise Rivals’ Costs – Some Evidence from Switzerland. Swiss Journal for Economics and Statistics, Volume 146(2), pp. 507-532.
  • Michal Sven, Rutz Samuel, Stüssi, Christoph Tagmann, Eva Tresch, Beat Zirlick Frank (2008). Studien zu Einzelbestimmungen: Einfuhrbeschränkungen, geistiges Eigentum und vertikale Vereinbarungen. Evaluationsgruppe Kartellgesetz, Bern.
  • Rutz Samuel (2002). International Environmental Agreements: Much Ado About Nothing? Shaker Publishers, Aachen.
  • Rutz Samuel (2001). Minimum Participation Rules and the Effectiveness of Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Working Paper Series, Centre for Economic Research, ETHZ.
  • Rutz Samuel (2001). Minimum Participation Rules and the Effectiveness of Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Working Paper Series, Centre for Economic Research, ETHZ.
  • Borek Thomas, Rutz Samuel (2000). International Environmental Negotiations: Does Coalition Size Matter? Working Paper Series, Centre for Economic Research, ETHZ.
  • Rutz Samuel, Saladin Stefan, Schubert Renate (1999). Aussenhandel und Nationale Umweltpolitik – Kommt es zu einem Wettlauf nach unten? in: Dujm, B. (ed.), Handel und Entwicklung, Berlin.