http://www.credit-suisse.com/news/enEN© Credit Suissemedia.relation@credit-suisse.comwebmaster.csg@credit-suisse.com60http://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/index.jsphttp://www.credit-suisse.com/framework/img/logo_cs.gifhttps://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41349Although there are interdependencies between transportation and regional development, it cannot necessarily be concluded that better accessibility triggers stronger growth. The effect of accessibility by various modes of transportation is influenced by larger-scale processes such as structural change and suburbanization. Structural change dictates the direction of economic development, whereas accessibility only starts to apply as a locational factor within this framework. Population growth is determined, in the respective phases, by suburbanization, reurbanization, and the external growth of the major economic areas. Transportation infrastructure only becomes relevant when it comes to selecting a place of residence in a peripheral or central location. When planning future requirements for transportation infrastructure, it is important to take account of this cause-and-effect pattern. Transportation and spatial planning influence each other. Consequently, it would be beneficial for everyone involved if the relevant bodies were to work closely together. Those are the findings of the latest study from Credit Suisse Economic Research.Research, studies, publicationsPrivate Bankinghttps://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41346According to the Financial Market Test Switzerland, carried out by Credit Suisse in cooperation with the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), economic expectations diminished somewhat in November. In the wake of the strong surge recorded in previous months, the relevant Credit Suisse ZEW Indicator lost ground by 8.6 points, but continued to hover at a high level of 56.4. At the same time, the assessment of the current economic situation once again turned out to be less pessimistic, with the corresponding indicator edging up by 8.8 points to the -46.2 mark. The lion’s share of the financial market experts surveyed (75.0%) still expect short-term interest rates to remain unchanged in the coming months. However, the relevant balance increased by 12.8 points to the 20.5 level in November. The balance for inflation expectations also rose, by 9.2 points to the 40.0 threshold. Although 55.0% of the survey participants still anticipate that inflation will hold steady, 42.5% believe that inflation rates will climb on a six-month horizon.Research, studies, publicationsPrivate Bankinghttps://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41339Pension funds in Switzerland rely heavily on the financial market, which – despite its volatile tendencies – makes an important long-term contribution to the accrual of retirement capital. Appropriate investment behavior, geared to the long term and capable of withstanding financial market turbulence and erratic funding ratios, is therefore of paramount importance to pension funds. For their latest study, Credit Suisse economists took a close look at the investment behavior of Swiss pension funds and found that the funding ratio, which often takes center stage in political discussions, has a significant impact on the investment strategies of these institutions. The report concludes that pension funds generally invest their pension assets relatively efficiently, but that there is room for improvement as regards asset allocation, where better use could be made of the diversification options that are available. The report also uses model calculations to demonstrate the impact of changes in life expectancy and yield expectations on the conversion rate.Swiss Business BankingResearch, studies, publications