A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that curbing population growth would bring some benefits, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, as […]
“No Switzerland of 10m people” initiative has driven campaign spending to record levels
Groups backing and opposing the initiative have amassed CHF 15m for the campaign, an unprecedented sum, reports RTS. Campaign budgets ahead of the June 14th referendum have reached a record high, largely because of the “No Switzerland of 10m people” initiative. According to figures published on Friday by the Federal Audit Office, more than CHF […]
Luzern overtakes Zug as Switzerland’s lowest-tax canton
For decades Zug has been synonymous with low corporate taxes. But according to a new analysis by PwC, Luzern has now edged ahead. The consulting firm calculates Luzern’s maximum effective corporate-tax rate at 11.66% in 2026, marginally below Zug’s 11.71%. At the other end of the scale, companies in Bern and Zurich face effective rates […]
The people losing their homes in French-speaking Switzerland
Switzerland’s push to meet its climate targets is colliding with a severe housing shortage. In French-speaking regions, large-scale evictions linked to energy renovations are becoming more common, leaving hundreds of tenants scrambling for new homes, reports RTS. In Geneva, 107 tenants on Boulevard Carl-Vogt received termination notices in January, reported the broadcaster. In Lausanne, 16 […]
Swiss government waters down nursing reforms
Switzerland’s lower house has watered down plans to improve working conditions for nurses, despite a looming staff shortage. Meeting in special session, the Swiss National Council diluted several elements of a government reform tied to the nursing-care initiative approved by voters in 2021. Lawmakers rejected a proposal to cut the maximum working week for nurses […]
New EU employment rules could be costly for Switzerland
A planned overhaul of unemployment rules for cross-border workers in the European Union could prove costly for Switzerland. Ambassadors from EU member states have backed a change that would shift responsibility for unemployment benefits from a worker’s country of residence to the country where they were last employed. Under the current system, in place since […]
Swiss government wants more Sunday shopping
For newcomers from much of the rest of the world, shopping in Switzerland can come as a surprise. Limited weekend trading and early closing hours have earned the country a nickname among some expatriates: “Shutzerland”. The Federal Council now wants to loosen the rules slightly, reported SRF. It supports allowing shops to open on up […]
Swiss exports weakest in 5 years
Swiss trade weakened at the start of 2026. Exports fell by 4.2% in the first quarter, compared with the previous three months, to CHF 66.9bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). That is their lowest level since late 2021. There were signs of a rebound in March. Seasonally adjusted exports […]
Swiss commission backs construction of new nuclear power plants
A parliamentary commission narrowly backed allowing the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland. By 13 votes to 12, the Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy endorsed an amendment to the nuclear energy law, reported SRF. The commission’s position aligns with the indirect counter-proposal from the Federal Council and the Council of […]
Swiss wages surge ahead of inflation
Nominal wages in Switzerland rose rise by an average of 1.8% in 2025, with real wages increasing by 1.6%. Swiss purchasing power therefore grew for a second consecutive year. Wage growth picked up noticeably in 2025 and, for the first time in years, more was retained in real terms as inflation remained subdued. According to […]
