Solar power production will make up 10% of the electricity consumed in Switzerland in 2024, estimates the association Swissolar. 2023 was a good year for the expansion of Switzerland’s solar power capacity, which rose 40% from 2022. The strong performance was partly driven by sharply rising electricity costs. The median price across Switzerland shot up […]
Swiss inequality – a perception gap?
In a recent poll, nearly 82% completely (46%) or somewhat (36%) agreed that the gap between rich and poor in Switzerland is increasing. However, these responses are at odds with typical measures of inequality. Two key measures of inequality are the S80/S20 and the Gini Coefficient. On both measures Switzerland is fairly stable. The S80/S20 […]
Swiss set to vote on fur and fois gras bans
It is currently illegal to produce fois gras of fur in Switzerland. However, these products can still be imported into the country. Two referenda, which recently passed the 100,000 minimum signature hurdle, are now set to be put before voters, reported RTS. Both initiatives are aimed at reducing animal cruelty. Fois gras is produced by […]
Swiss Federal Council – some question free ski passes
Federal Councillors earn a salary of CHF 472,000 before tax. They also receive CHF 30,000 to cover expenses. In addition, they are given a Switzerland-wide ski pass costing CHF 4,000 + VAT. Some are now questioning whether the free ski pass makes sense given the government belt tightening going on currently. The question of free […]
Internet searches – most popular in Switzerland in 2023
The most commonly searched term on Google in Switzerland in 2023 was “ChatGPT”, reported Google. Second, third, fourth and fifth places went to “CS stock” (Credit Suisse stock), “war in Israel and Gaza”, “Rammstein” (a German band) and “Erdbeben Turkey” (the location of the tragic earthquake in February). ChatGPT searches were popular across the year […]
Percentage of Swiss on welfare dips below 3 percent
In 2022, 2.9% of the population received welfare, according to data published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) this week. Since 2005, when nationwide data on welfare was first collected, the rate has only dipped below 3% once before in 2008. The highest it has been was 3.3% in 2016 and 2017. Welfare does not […]
Swiss winter holidays – hotel association calls on cantons to avoid clashes
Most Swiss do not ski. Only a third of the population regularly takes to the snow in winter. One deterrent is school holiday planning. Many years ago, the typically two week break over Christmas fell during the prime ski season, a period with abundant snow. Now this period is hit and miss. Beyond this, most […]
Song with Swiss connection tops UK Christmas chart in 2023
Before streaming, topping the Christmas charts was based on the sales of singles in the run up to Christmas. That was in 1984. Now it’s 2023 and it is based on the number of streams in the week leading up to midnight on 21 December. This year, the winner was the Wham! classic Last Christmas, […]
2023 Switzerland’s second warmest year since measurements began
The weather in Switzerland in 2023 was volatile. 2023 began mildly with highs of around 20 °C and a pronounced lack of snow in the mountains. Spring brought record rain, and summer began with the lowest rainfall since measurements began. Heat waves followed by heavy rainfall fell on southern and eastern Switzerland in July and […]
Switzerland and UK agree post-Brexit financial services trade deal
More than seven years after a slim majority (51.9%) of the UK electorate voted to leave the EU, Switzerland and the UK have agreed a deal that clears the way to more open cooperation in the financial services sector, helping to restore the pre-Brexit arrangement between the two nations. On Thursday, Switzerland and the UK […]
