Sharing or renting your house when you are not using it, or your car when you have a seat to spare is a very old idea. Home swaps started in the 1950s when, as part of a project to improve cultural exchange, the Swiss and Dutch Teachers’ Unions started the home-exchange revolution. In a similar […]
Swiss tax changes affecting international companies
Many of us who come from abroad to live in or around Switzerland are here either directly or indirectly because of favourable tax rules that generously benefit certain companies and branch offices in Switzerland. Switzerland’s harmful state aid Unfortunately, the European Union (EU) does not like Swiss tax rules that tax certain income differently. In […]
Calls for tax breaks for Swiss investors
Start up businesses in Switzerland are being stifled by a lack of investment at the critical early funding stages. This message came across loud and clear at the Innovation Forum conference on Science and Technology this week at EPFL. Entrepreneurs who start new ventures often fund them with money from friends and family. But as […]
Switzerland’s problems with debt, taxes and billionaires
Switzerland was singled out in this week’s Economist cover story on the dangers of tax-free debt. The article however, skips over essential detail and overlooks the elephant in the room. Debt is more dangerous than equity. When crises strike the fixed obligations associated with it send shock waves through the financial system as lenders panic […]
Switzerland leads the world of large family businesses
The University of St. Gallen in Switzerland recently compiled a list of the 500 largest family businesses around the world. There are some surprising companies in the list. Household names and some you might have never heard of. The United States is the clear winner based on total number (101) and combined revenue (US$2 trillion) […]
How costly Switzerland leverages business brain power to help society
Establishing a new business in Switzerland is fairly expensive, with it’s formalities and high legal costs. Yet, once underway, Swiss businesses benefit from a coherent and uncomplicated operating environment. Many new businesses are also eligible for a range of subsidies and incentives that are offered at national, cantonal and even communal level. Last week, a […]
A critical look at Orange’s new brand name
Creating a good brand name from scratch is no mean feat. You’ll need to find a name that’s memorable, ownable and unique. It needs to convey what the underlying product or service experience is all about. It must stand the test of time. It has to work across a babel of languages – without, of […]
The Swiss franc – to Euro parity and beyond?
With a number of ups and downs the Swiss franc has gained ground against the Euro since February and there appears to be little the Swiss National Bank (SNB) can do to manage its value. Last Wednesday in an attempt to halt the rise the SNB extended the range of institutions that must pay its […]
Why Hollande’s France can’t copy Switzerland
Last week there was much fanfare around French president Francois Hollande’s visit to Switzerland. Mr. Hollande spoke enthusiastically about Switzerland and as reported in 24heures went as far as saying that there was much in Switzerland that France should emulate. However, despite Mr. Hollande’s enthusiastic talk there is little chance France can copy Switzerland’s model […]
Geneva’s unemployment now higher than the US
The unemployment rate in Geneva for March 2015 was 5.6%. In the United States (US) the March 2015 rate was 5.5%, 0.1% lower than in Geneva. US employment has enjoyed a remarkable turn around. Five years ago US unemployment was 9.7%. Five years ago in Geneva it was 7.3%, so the US has moved further […]
