Every year, Switzerland’s Federal Council publishes a photograph reflecting the theme for the year, which is chosen by the new president. This year’s theme is optimism, solidarity and foresight. The photo shows the 7 Federal Councillors and the Federal Chancellor in front of a canvas with the outlines of well known mountain peaks in Switzerland, […]
Three laws changing in Switzerland in 2024
On 1 January 2024, three new laws came into force. The first is a change to Swiss pensions. Under the new rules it will be easier to retire later or to continue working part time. Working for longer will mean a larger state pension when it is taken. The economic rationale is that more people […]
Top 10 most popular electric cars in Switzerland in 2023
Electric car sales continue to rise in Switzerland. In 2023, the percentage of total new cars registered that were electric rose to 20.9%, up from 17.3% in 2022, reported Swiss eMobility. At 1 January 2024, 163,511 electric cars were registered in Switzerland, around 3% of the total cars on Swiss roads. German-speaking Switzerland was the […]
Solar will cover 10 percent of Swiss electricity consumption in 2024
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 […]
