The latest Swiss inflation forecast published this week by SECO points to a further rise in interest rates later this month. Although the expert group on business cycles continues to expect significantly below-average growth for the Swiss economy, with a rate of 1.1% in 2023, followed by 1.5% in 2024, its forecast inflation of 2.3% […]
Swiss cyber attacks – some evidence points to Russia
According to an interview by SRF, the perpetrators of numerous recent cyber attacks in Switzerland may come from Russia. Several Swiss federal government websites have been attacked recently. Swiss Rail was affected, with ticket online ticket sales temporarily blocked. The federal parliament website was attacked last week and two newspaper websites, the NZZ and CH-Media […]
Swiss government moves closer to abolishing fake taxable rents
Every year, home owners in Switzerland who live in their properties must add an imputed rent to their taxable income, adding to their tax bill. The system was introduced in the 1940s to fund government shortfalls during the war. A number of politicians and members of the public have tried for roughly two decades to […]
WWF hits out at barbecue meat discounts
Meat for barbecues is often heavily discounted while discounts on plants-based products are relatively rare, according to a study by WWF Switzerland, reported RTS. Animal products benefitted from more frequent and higher discounts, said WWF. Out of 150 products discounted in Switzerland between the end of April and mid-May 2023, 95% were animal products, which […]
Practically no gender pay inequality, shows Swiss study
A study done by the University of St. Gallen on behalf of the Swiss Employers’ Association published this week found there was practically no pay inequality between men and women in Switzerland, reported RTS. The study looked at analysis done on 461 companies in Switzerland using a federal government framework. According to the results 99.3% […]
Geneva to vote on turbo taxing the wealthy
Switzerland is one a few countries that taxes wealth, a tax borne by a relatively small percentage of the population, due partly to thresholds and allowances. On 18 June 2023, citizens in the canton of Geneva will vote on whether to boost the rate of wealth tax applied to assets above CHF 3 million over […]
Swiss to vote on a plan to cut fossil fuel use
On the 18 June 2023 the Swiss electorate will vote on the Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security. The question before voters is whether to accept the government’s counter-proposal to the Glacier Initiative, a popular vote formulated in 2018. The original Glacier Initiative was aimed at drastically reducing the use […]
Swiss to vote on higher company taxes
On 18 June 2023, Swiss voters will choose whether to accept the federal government’s plan to raise the company tax rate applied to large multinationals to a minimum of 15%. The minimum 15% tax, which will apply to any company with annual revenues of Euro 750 million or more, has essentially been forced on Switzerland […]
Evacuated rock slide town residents allowed to briefly return
The population of Brienz in the Swiss canton of Graubunden were briefly allowed to return to the town this week after being evacuated on 12 May 2023, reported SRF. Two 90-minute time slots were planned on Wednesday with limits of 30 people at a time, reported the broadcaster. The visits were aimed at enabling the […]
Swiss parliament responds to initiative to raise retirement age
Switzerland’s ageing population is undermining the future financial health of its state pension system, a challenge facing much of the world. A number of Swiss politicians believe later retirement is the only way to meaningfully confront the issue. Andri Silberschmidt, a member of the PLR/FDP in Zurich, along with others, has launched an initiative to […]
