The Interior Ministry effectively oversees the regular and auxiliary police forces. There is no standing military force. Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed during recent decades from an agrarian society into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector. It participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. As a result of complex negotiations held with member states of the European economic area and Switzerland and a national referendum held in 1995, Liechtenstein is also a member of the European Economic Area.
Citizens enjoy a very high standard of living.
Unemployment was only 1.1 percent in 1996. The Government fully respects the human rights of its citizens provided for in the Constitution, and the law and judiciary provide effective means of dealing with instances of individual abuse. Existing societal discrimination against women is being eliminated in accordance with government policy. There were no reports of political or other extrajudicial killings. There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.