‘Commodities – Switzerland’s most dangerous business’ paints a searing and detailed picture of one of globalisation’s biggest winners, a powerful industry whose dealings often take it into dangerous areas. In the last decade Switzerland has emerged as one of the world’s dominant trading hubs for commodities, handling from 15 to 25 per cent of world trade. All the world’s largest trading houses operate partly or mainly out of this seemingly peaceful and innocent country. But while these powerful companies experience an unprecedented boom, the population of many resource-rich developing countries remain mired in poverty. This book tackles the question of why.

Revenue Watch researched how 11 countries sell the portion of oil produced that belongs to the government. RWI’s analysis of good sales practices shows that selling to independent commodity traders can pose governance risks for developing countries. "The results are detailed in four policy briefs that recommend transparency, identify good sale practices and explain how oil sales and global oil prices work.

The Oil Sales briefs are: The Case for Transparency in National Oil Company Crude Sales; The Governance of Oil Sales: Early Lessons on Good Practice; How Governments Sell their Oil; and When the Price is Right. Download the Oil Sales briefs.

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