In December 2017, the European Union (EU) set up a blacklist and a grey list of tax havens, countries it deemed were being used to help companies and wealthy individuals reduce their tax bills. Switzerland ended up on the grey list. Nations on these lists faced reputational damage and stricter controls on financial transactions with […]
Why Switzerland ranked near the top of the 2019 global competitiveness ranking
Switzerland made the the top 5, after dropping from 4th to 5th, in this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index. Switzerland’s decline was largely due to a down weighting of a factor where it is strong, according to WEF’s Saadia Zahidi. The Global Competitive Index measures performance in 114 areas that influence a […]
Nobel Prize awarded to two Swiss physicists
This week Swiss physicists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, who are based at the University of Geneva, were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star in 1995. Exoplanets, or extra solar planets, are planets beyond our solar system. The National Geographic video above explains their discovery […]
Rumoured plan to repatriate Daesh families to Switzerland
According to various newspapers, including Tribune de Genève, some members of Switzerland’s federal government are considering a plan to repatriate Daesh families from the middle east to Switzerland. The plan, which newspapers say could find support among members of the Federal Council, would involve bringing four mothers and seven children back to Switzerland. Two of […]
Swiss parliament rejects initiative to limit immigration
Last week, Switzerland’s parliament voted against an initiative put forward by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) to limit immigration into Switzerland, according to RTS. The idea was rejected by 123 votes to 63. The UDC was the only party to support it. If a majority of Swiss voters support the initiative the government would have […]
Referendum calling for 4 weeks paternity leave withdrawn
The group behind the popular vote demanding four weeks (20 days) of paternity leave has decided to withdraw its initiative and to accept the government’s counter proposal of two weeks (10 days), according to RTS. From 2021, fathers of newborns will qualify for two weeks of paid paternity leave. Currently there is no paid leave […]
Vaud’s 2020 budget – higher spending, higher taxes
The Swiss canton of Vaud has managed to balance its 2020 budget with a small surplus of 76,000 francs. This is the 14th time in row that the canton’s budget has been in the black. At the same time planned spending is up by 2.43%, well ahead of Swiss inflation – prices were lower in […]
Parents waiting longer to have children in Switzerland
In Switzerland, on average, mothers gave birth to their children at the age of 32 in 2018. And, fathers were on average 35.1 years old, according to the Federal Statistical Office. In 1990, on average, mothers gave birth to their children at the age of 28.9. Switzerland’s fertility rate, or the average number of babies […]
Record numbers protest for climate action in Swiss capital
According to protest organiser Climate Alliance, between 60,000 and 100,000 people gathered in Bern, Switzerland’s capital, last week to urge greater action on climate change. Climate Alliance, says it represents 80 environmental organisations. 100'000 !#Berne #ClimatDeChangement #ClimateAction #ClimateJustice pic.twitter.com/Yl7ge9PNHi — Alliance Climatique Suisse (@alliance_climat) September 28, 2019 Local police did not want to comment on […]
Flight shame and taxes could halve growth in passenger numbers, says UBS
A recent report based on a survey of 6,000 people by the Swiss bank UBS suggests growth in the number of people taking to the skies could halve as people choose to fly less, according to various news media including the BBC. 21% of those surveyed across the UK, France, Germany and the US said […]
