Contents page 1 — Now the Swiss are gone, finally. However, the Germans miss you page 2 — shopping is a political page 3 — is the time of The Swiss shopping centres expired page 4 — Ans linger, no one here has thought On a page

What happens when two countries collide with each other – personally, socially read, economically? As in Laufenburg, a small town split between two countries. In the North of Germany, in the South of Switzerland. There, Württemberg, here’s the Aargau, and in between, the Rhine, Baden-Baden. The river running on both sides of the over colorful rows of houses, by the two old towns narrow, cobbled streets wind. Two bridges connect the two parts of the city, for pedestrians, for motorists.

In the past, the conditions for this socio-economic Experiment is clear: The Swiss franc was strong, the Euro weak. The gradient you used on both sides. German looking for a Job in Switzerland, the Swiss bought beyond the border, in order to save. Discounters, drugstores, butcher shops, flower shops opened new stores on the German side.

However, the fat years are over. The latest number comes Association from Baden-Württemberg’s trade. In September 2018, the turnover in retail trade decreased compared to the previous year, by 3.9 percent. The shops are less frequented often, the Online trading places. “The majority of the farms,” says the Association’s CEO, Utz Geiselhart, “reported declining sales to Swiss customers.” More than half of the holdings are likely to be now.

The goes into the money. In the year 2017, the Swiss 10 billion euros in the shops and shopping centres in the South of Germany; a part of it in Laufenburg. The so-called shopping tourism increased steadily and reached its peak in the year 2015: the Swiss national Bank lifted the Euro minimum exchange rate. The Swiss franc gained in value against the European single currency, the Goods were in Laufenburg Swiss wage-earners even cheaper.

The Swiss and their money left the southern German retail literally booming. Or as it says a Burger: “Without us, there would be as dead as the have no Aldi, no Lidl, no DM.”

This article dates back to the TIME no 52/2018. Here you can read the entire issue.

Yet not the Germans were only pleased with the many Swiss who came to your shopping center and malls for shopping. Many of the Locals resented the long traffic jams, the traffic, the clogged for many people, the Saturday, the old towns, because here everything is so insanely cheap. “German enough”, was the headline in the view, and the German radio reported the chagrin of the “small Border”. This continues until today. In Bad Säckingen, a neighbouring town of Laufen castle, destroyed the German recently a Swiss car, you popped the tire and scratched the paint.

Laufenburg bend Swiss motorists usually just behind the border crossing to the left, in the direction of the Park. A ten-acre Site, on the Aldi, Lidl, Edeka, DM, Kik, Fressnapf, Deichmann, several hairdressers, nail studios and fashion shops opened. Volksbank advertises with a poster: “Working in Switzerland, Living in Germany”. A Shoe manufacturer praises its “Swiss technology”. In between the flowers to be stuck up business of The Dutch. In the Store, the Boss, Mirjam van Rijn, and waiting on customers. Today, no one was there.

80 percent of their customers come from Switzerland. Since the beginning of summer you remember how the sales go, says van Rijn: “the Swiss franc and the Euro is approaching, the Swiss shops to respond to our prices, and the beggar gangs here in the Park, in my opinion, have also contributed to the increase in the attractiveness.” It also goes the other way? Van Rijn says: “If it goes on like this, will soon have to close many stores.”

the operator of the Edeka in the run Park, recorded a decline in sales. Exact Figures do not give out, especially in summer, Swiss customers were remained but increased. Reason for concern? “No,” says the market Manager does not want to read his name in the newspaper: “We are experiencing an interesting effect. We are counting more and more customers but less revenue.” And he has an interesting Thesis: Because the Swiss lack, were increasingly German on the way to his Shop. The drove used to be a few kilometers out of Laufenburg, in the direction of Hotzenwald. In the local Edeka branch, los was less.

Also in the German customs, you realize the Swiss-wasting. The main customs office in Singen export counts and certificates of the buyer at the border stamp, if you request the value-added taxes. For ten years, the number increased constant – 2017, the trend was followed in turn. Between Waldshut and Constance, the number of buyers fell by 4 percent compared to the previous year, in 2018, it is expected to go to 2017 and a further 5 per cent. Nevertheless, Still stamped customs officials, 11 million Tickets. In the run Park, also a Container of the customs authority, since March of this year in the Parking lot, and Edeka is competing with a congestion-free VAT refund to Swiss customers.