Archive: Focus of the month

When Nudge Turns to Shove

Focus of the month Governments should hold back when it comes to taxes promoting healthy eating

01.02.2022, Haig Simonian

Finding the Right Balance for Public Services

Focus of the month Switzerland’s tradition of “service public” sits oddly with commercial priorities

30.11.2021, Haig Simonian

Not Such a Haven

Focus of the month Contrary to received opinion, taxes on capital in Switzerland bite hard

30.09.2021, Haig Simonian

Slow, but Progressive, Deterioration

Focus of the month Switzerland’s relations with its most important trading and political partner will inevitably decline

30.08.2021, Haig Simonian

Switzerland’s Unions Must Become More Transparent

Focus of the month Increasing politicization means era of opacity must end

29.06.2021, Haig Simonian

No “Swiss Finish” for Climate Change

Focus of the month Only international co-ordination will manage to combat global warming

31.05.2021, Haig Simonian

How the Private Sector Could Help to Fight the Next Pandemic

Focus of the month Experience with Covid-19 has made us somewhat the wiser

29.04.2021, Haig Simonian

Decision Time for Switzerland

Focus of the month Revising relations with the European Union cannot be postponed forever

30.03.2021, Haig Simonian

A Troubling New Way of Business For Switzerland

Focus of the month The corona crisis reminds us of the value of free markets

28.01.2021, Haig Simonian

Federalism and Collegiality Put to the Test

Focus of the month The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed strains in Switzerland’s vaunted political system

23.12.2020, Haig Simonian

Bern Must Avoid the Temptation to Overreact

Focus of the month The Swiss government has won praise for its economic response to the Covid-19 crisis, but needs to remain watchful

30.11.2020, Haig Simonian

Switzerland Should Embrace Business, Not Suspect It

Focus of the month Big companies are crucial to the country’s prosperity

09.11.2020, Haig Simonian

Focus of the month The approved “Energy Strategy 2050” reflects the government’s view on how to further develop Switzerland’s efforts concerning energy efficiency, as well as encouraging the development of different renewable energies such as : hydro-power, sun, wind, geothermal and biomass. However, the uncertainties regarding Switzerland’s energy policy in the future remain numerous and it won’t be easy to find answers.

31.07.2017, Tibère Adler, Fernanda Guerrero

The Swiss Labor Market

Focus of the month In comparison with other countries, Switzerland’s labor market is particularly flexible thanks to its liberal legislation. This liberal approach to work is deeply rooted in the country's culture and has long enjoyed widespread popular support. There have been various federal referendums calling for additional regulations or restrictions in the labor market.

21.06.2017, Fernanda Guerrero, Tibère Adler

Demographic Changes: What Is At Stake? A Swiss View

Focus of the month The aging of society has many consequences: People reach higher and higher ages – and stay young for longer and longer. This encouraging development is a challenge for society at various levels – not just financially: the number of retirees in Switzerland will grow by 900,000 (+ 61%) to 2.4 million by 2035, while the working population will only increase by 7% in the same period.

02.06.2017, Fernanda Guerrero, Tibère Adler

Positive Culture of Austerity: Switzerland’s ’Debt Brake’

Focus of the month Since the early 2000’s, Switzerland’s fiscal institutions have been successful in keeping the overall levels of taxation and spending at moderate levels. The Swiss debt brake is the ideal model for other countries lacking fiscal discipline to embrace. Although the debt break is already part of many governments’ policies in the form of typical numerical fiscal rules, the mechanism needs to be used for more than just to stave off the immediate economic threat of becoming overwhelmed by a wave of accumulated state debt.

26.04.2017, Mariusz Lukasiewicz, Tibère Adler