Net migration into Switzerland from the EU was down by 11% last year, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). In 2017, a net 31,250 people from the EU and EFTA moved to Switzerland. And, with a 4% decline in the number arriving over the five months to May 2018, the fall looks […]
The large tax differences between Swiss cantons
In Switzerland, tax is largely determined by the canton of residence. The range of tax rates is wide. In 2017, a single person earning CHF 100,000 paid only CHF 7,592 in the canton of Zug but CHF 19,233 in the canton of Neuchâtel, more than 2.5 times as much. Someone married with children earning the […]
How mathematicians solved glacier death mystery after 86 years
On the 4th of March 1926 three brothers and a fourth man set out on a hike to Koncordiaplatz on Switzerland’s Aletsch glacier, the largest in the Alps. They never returned. When their bodies were discovered in 2012, scientists and mathematicians were able to work out what happened to the men 86 years earlier. The […]
Recording TV could be under threat in Switzerland
With TV recording there’s no need to miss programmes just because they’re on at the wrong time. And, when it’s time to watch them, it’s easy to fast forward through the adverts, something that can’t be done when watching live. In Switzerland, television recording is offered by big distributers, such as Swisscom, Sunrise and UPC. […]
Don’t get caught out by Swiss summer train track closures
Swiss rail is closing parts of its network from 30 June 2018 until 26 August 2018. Engineering work across more than 30 sites means some sections of track will be closed. Work can be done at night, allowing trains to run during the day, however, work is much faster if it is done around the […]
Speed limits reduced in France
From 1 July 2018, speed limits on some French roads are lower. On 9 January 2018, France’s government decided to cut the speed limit from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on some roads. The new speed limit applies to the more than 400,000 kms of two-way roads with no dividing line. Around 11,000 speed signs […]
Swiss government rejects nationwide burka ban and presents counter proposal
Last week, Switzerland’s federal council, or cabinet, said it was against the vote to ban burkas nationwide. Instead it prefers a targeted approach. Last year enough signatures were collected to launch a federal vote on whether to introduce a ban across all of Switzerland. The federal council thinks the decision should remain largely in the […]
Vote to end free Swiss-EU migration gets enough signatures
Organizers of a vote to limit immigration into Switzerland from EU and EFTA nations, had until 18 July 2019 to collect 100,000 valid signatures. Last week, almost one year ahead of the deadline, the Swiss People’s Party announced that they had collected 125,000 signatures. Surprised by how quickly the signatures were collected, Swiss People’s Party leader […]
Swiss VAT might rise to fund lower company tax rates
Historically, Switzerland has offered certain foreign companies special preferential tax deals in order to attract them. In response to international pressure, the current system is to be phased out replacing preferential tax rates with lower universal ones in the hope that these companies will stay. The central challenge is how to cover the tax revenue […]
Football – Switzerland goes through to next round
On 27 June 2018, Switzerland drew 2:2 to Costa Rica. This gave Switzerland a total of 5 points, placing it second in Group E, behind Brazil with 7 points. Brazil won 2:0 against Serbia in the other final Group E match. This sends Switzerland through to the next round. At 90 minutes, Switzerland was set […]
