In Switzerland, like many countries around the world, a static retirement age combined with rising life expectancy and a rapidly aging population is creating cracks in the nation’s pay-as-you-go pension system. Eventually, a shrinking working population will buckle under the strain of funding the pensions of a growing number retirees. In a survey following Switzerland’s failed […]
Question of the week: why is equality often automatically deemed fair?
On the surface universal equality might seem fair. However, detailed analysis can sometimes reveal examples where forcing equality would be unfair. One study, that looked at gender bias in the hiring of US university faculty in mathematical (STEM) subjects, revealed such an example. 70% of the STEM jobs in the study were held by men. However, […]
Question of the week: why is there so much anger in politics?
There are plenty of challenges in today’s world. But measured objectively, humanity is in decent shape – globally there’s less poverty and average life expectancy has never been higher. Yet more and more we seem to be at each others’ throats. Why? One explanation is a shift in media and advertising. Deprived of highly priced […]
Question of the week: should advertisers use social issues to sell stuff?
Last week, an advertiser offered the world a guide on male behaviour and how men should police each other when they get out of line. The advert was disliked by around 65% of raters. Those who liked it typically praised the advert’s content and the positive message it spread. Those disliking it generally objected to […]
Question of the week: how can we reach the truth if we reject facts that challenge our beliefs?
In the book Thinking Fast and Slow, psychologist Daniel Kahneman reveals our tendency to avoid critical thought and to only to see what we want to see. Our minds are wired to cling to our current worldview to avoid being plunged into the chaos of open questions. It’s far safer, easier and more comfortable to massage […]
Question of the week: do we need a retirement age?
Reaching the official retirement age1 is an important milestone for many people. Some look forward to it while others dread it. Some dreading it would prefer to continue working either because they enjoy their work or would like the extra income. Some feel they are being systematically and unfairly labelled too old to work. A […]
Question of the week: why do we eat some animals but not others?
Across Europe, eating cow is quite normal, but for many Indians it’s off the menu. Across much of Asia, dog meat can be found in markets, however in Europe eating dog is taboo. And, in France it’s normal to eat horse, while the British find it unappetizing. Why is this? For more stories like this […]
Question of the week: do we need a retirement age?
Reaching the official retirement age1 is an important milestone for many people. Some look forward to it while others dread it. Some dreading it would prefer to continue working either because they enjoy their work or would like the extra income. Some feel they are being systematically and unfairly labelled too old to work. A […]
Question of the week – If we exhaust the Earth we could move to Mars. But what would happen if we exhausted Mars too?
Some developing hi-tech solutions to environmental problems admit their efforts will provide only temporary breathing space if the humans continue to multiply and consume more. By this logic Mars would only provide more temporary breathing space. For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Question of the week: is the world getting better or worse?
Steven Pinker presents data that show it’s getting much better. Safer, less war torn, richer and more equal. Yet opinion is often at odds with this data. Why? For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.