Swiss cantons have very different tax bases, tax rates and costs. Many think all taxes raised by each canton are spent there. This was true, however in 2008 it changed. A national financial equalization mechanism (or péréquation financière nationale in French) was introduced to reduce cantonal financial disparities. Now every year rich cantons pay and poor cantons […]
Archives for February 2015
Why Swiss farm produce is so expensive
Swiss farm produce is expensive. It is not uncommon to pay over CHF 100 (US$ 105) per kilogram for the best cuts of beef in Swiss supermarkets, a multiple of two to three times the price of many other countries. Similarly high prices exist for many other farm products in Switzerland. Why is this? Small […]
Art, Sex and literature – literary encounters at the 2015 Crans-Montana M4
At this year’s M4 Rencontres Littéraires at Crans-Montana, French-speaking writers, historians, actors, Sorbonne professors, filmmakers and critics along with the curator of the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, met at the Hotel Royal in Crans-Montana this year to discuss art, sex and literature. After last year’s edition on the writing of the self, the literary meeting […]
Red Army; Birdman
RED ARMY **** Documentaries are flourishing in the cinema world, for if well-made, they are informative, often moving and entertaining. They serve a public service in opening our eyes to realities we didn’t know existed (like Wim Wenders’ brilliant Salt of the Earth), but they can also be exhilarating, like this one about a legendary hockey team out […]
Improve your skin – give yourself a facial massage
Asia has always had an edge over the western world when it comes to skin care and beauty treatments. Some of the biggest beauty hypes like alphabet creams and skin lightening products originate from Japan and many popular oriental beauty treatments like facial massages eventually get picked up by Europe and the United States. People […]
The Food of Love
‘But I didn’t order this,’ the smaller child wailed the other evening, staring at her plate of oven-roasted vegetables with dismay. ‘There’s been some mistake in the kitchen!’ Normally, I’d be very sympathetic. I hate it when restaurants bungle my order. But we were not in a restaurant, we were at the dining room table, […]
See what is coming to the 85th Geneva Motor Show
Automakers around the world are preparing for the 85th Geneva Motor Show, which counts itself as one of the “top six” global motor shows. The show is open to the press from 3-4 March and the public from 5-15 March at the Palexpo Arena. 10,000 journalists from 103 countries and 670,000 people are expected to […]
Megève: 5 reasons to consider skiing there
No.1 – Third largest ski area in France
Megève sits at the heart of the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area, stretching over 445 km, 220 ski slopes, 107 ski lifts, 5 snow parks and 5 nursery areas for beginners. The combined area stretches from Les Contamines to as far as La Gettiaz. There are runs for all levels of ability from chic greens to the world cup certified black runs of la Cote 2000. Also be sure not to miss the 360-degree Mont-Blanc view from la Tête de Torraz. And, if you feel the need to slow down and relax, you can transfer between stations in a horse-drawn carriage.
Italy and Switzerland sign a deal to fight tax evasion
On 23 February 2015, Swiss Federal councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and the Italian finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan signed a deal in Milan to fight tax evasion. This deal marks the end of years of controversy and brings the double taxation agreement (DTA) between the two countries into compliance with OECD standards, in particular the rules […]
Burgundy and Jura winemakers bring their wine to Annemasse
SPONSORED CONTENT The Federation of Independent Burgundian and Jura winemakers brings together 66 winemakers from Burgundy and the French Jura. Together they will present several hundred wines. Not only will you save yourself the drive to Burgundy and the Jura, you will also get the undivided attention of all these wine makers under one roof. […]