Tribune de Genève. According to Tribune de Genève 20,000 pensioners were contacted and asked to prove they are still alive. 16,700 in Switzerland and 3,300 abroad. Some of those who received the letters are furious. One recipient said that many of her retired friends found the letters humiliating. The requests were sent to former employees […]
Geneva bars sell second most expensive beer in the world
Go Euro. According to the Go Euro 2015 beer price index, a 33ml draught beer in a bar in Geneva will set you back an eye watering US$10.77 on average. Krakow is the best city for the beer thirsty. There a 33ml draught beer in a bar will cost only US$2.70, around a quarter of […]
Frontaliers hit hardest by proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules
Tribune de Genève According to the newspaper Tribune de Genève, proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules, designed to pull in an extra CHF 28 million of tax revenue, will hit cross-border workers hardest. The changes, to be put before the canton’s Grand Council as part of the 2016 budget, will replace deductions for actual travel […]
The Swiss franc – to Euro parity and beyond?
With a number of ups and downs the Swiss franc has gained ground against the Euro since February and there appears to be little the Swiss National Bank (SNB) can do to manage its value. Last Wednesday in an attempt to halt the rise the SNB extended the range of institutions that must pay its […]
Geneva’s unemployment now higher than the US
The unemployment rate in Geneva for March 2015 was 5.6%. In the United States (US) the March 2015 rate was 5.5%, 0.1% lower than in Geneva. US employment has enjoyed a remarkable turn around. Five years ago US unemployment was 9.7%. Five years ago in Geneva it was 7.3%, so the US has moved further […]
Costly Swiss drugs – why pain continues despite strong franc
Medicines are expensive in Switzerland and while a number of groups such as Santé Suisse are working hard to secure savings, the problem of relatively high prices continues. High drug prices persist in Switzerland for three key reasons. 1. Too many branded drugs There are two kinds of drugs: branded and generic drugs with expired-patents. […]
Switzerland’s discount heaven
Another day in Happy Valley…with warmer weather and budding trees suggesting that spring finally is on its way. So too is the tradition of doing some spring skiing, before the thoughts of the denizens of Happy Valley turn completely from schussing down the ski-hill, to boating across Lake Leman to buy various goods in France […]
A Geneva taxi can cost more than your flight
Recent research shows how expensive airport taxis can be. Many people don’t include these costs in travel budgets and can often be in for a shock. Geneva is known to be an expensive destination, however the cost of a Geneva taxi compared to other cities is surprisingly high. Simon Phillips from No1 Currency, which conducted […]
Uncle Sam seeks expat ideas on tax reform
A record number of US citizens renounced their citizenship last year and one of the most common reasons for this was the costs and time required to comply with America’s complicated tax rules. It seems that some in the US senate have heard the cries of their expatriates. A bipartisan group including Democrats and Republicans […]
Swiss property prices on the way down
Credit Suisse’s recent annual property report describes the downward forces on Swiss property prices and explains why a soft landing is not guaranteed. The report also looks at the cities and regions most at risk. Swiss franc shock Swiss real estate was already poised to head into the downward part of the property cycle before […]
