traditionally, the village's economy was based on farming in the aare river valley and seasonal alpine herding in the alpine valleys. they also received some income from travelers over the brünig pass. beginning in the 19th century, there was a small tourist industry in the municipality and in 1888 a rail station of the brünig railway line allowed more tourists to visit. today the local economy is based on wood carving, government jobs, hotel and tourism related work and the ballenberg open air museum.