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Switzerland has a system of compulsory health insurance. Residents must choose an insurer and pay. Those who don’t are automatically signed up and sent a bill. © Auremar | Dreamstime.com Other than shopping around, choosing a policy with an excess, a sum that must be covered out of your own pocket before the insurance kicks in, is one of the few ways to reduce your premium. Like much insurance in Switzerland, the government sets many of the rules, including the size of these excesses and the...

In October 2017, when Switzerland’s Federal Council announced the government would stand behind Sion’s bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, it sparked a backlash. South Korean Winter Olympics 2018_© Zhukovsky _ Dreamstime.com A survey run by Tamedia in February 2018 suggests 59% of the Swiss public are against the bid, according to RTS. The estimated cost to Swiss taxpayers is close to CHF 1 billion. Other costs, to be borne by the host canton Valais and other cantons, are expected on top of...

The canton wants the platform to place limits on its use to put the brakes on commercial operators. © Mohamed Ahmed Soliman | Dreamstime.com The 60 day limit was set by Geneva’s State Council. Antonio Hodgers, State councillor in charge of housing told Tribune de Genève that renting on the platform had become a real business for some and that this needs to be controlled. The canton wants to prevent properties being permanently rented via these platforms because it’s reduces the number of...

A recent survey calculates 60.1% of Switzerland’s population was middle class in 2015, a figure that has remained broadly stable since 1998, reaching its highest in 2009 (61.3%) and lowest in 2013 (56.8%). © Iakov Filimonov | Dreamstime.com But what is middle class in Switzerland? According to Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office, it is anyone living in a household with a gross income between 70% and 150% of the gross median income. In 2015, the most recent year, to be considered middle...

Lukas Reimann, a parliamentarian and member of the Swiss Peoples Party (UDC/SVP), fought to have parliamentarians paid by health companies partially excluded from government commissions dealing with health issues. © Martin Šandera | Dreamstime.com He thinks vested interests are behind high health premiums and that cartels must be broken. According to him 23 out of 25 of the members on such health commissions have links to the sector. His motion was rejected by 69 to 99 votes, with 11...

Switzerland’s power grid is part of a large pool of ebbing and flowing electricity spanning 25 countries, known as the Continental European (EC) power grid. © Mauro77photo | Dreamstime.com Enough electricity must be fed into it to keep it at a stable frequency. The EC’s magic number is 50 Hz. Maintaining this requires a carefully coordinated trans-national balancing act. When electricity consumption rises, power stations across the network must work harder. Normally the system works well....

Age discrimination in the Swiss job market appears to be getting worse. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of over 55s on welfare increased by 50.5%, something that cannot be fully explained by an aging population. The population aged between 56 and 64 only increased by 11.6% over the same period. © Sarah2 | Dreamstime.com Across the total population the number on welfare rose by around 10%, a far smaller rise that for those over 55. Well qualified people are also suffering from longterm...

Age discrimination in the Swiss job market appears to be getting worse. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of over 55s on welfare increased by 50.5%, something that cannot be fully explained by an aging population. The population aged between 56 and 64 only increased by 11.6% over the same period. © Sarah2 | Dreamstime.com Across the total population the number on welfare rose by around 10%, a far smaller rise that for those over 55. Well qualified people are also suffering from longterm...

While many national governments, such as the US and UK, regularly spend more than they collect, Switzerland managed a CHF 2.8 billion surplus in 2017. In addition, CHF 2 billion of withholding tax is expected, which would push the surplus up to CHF 4.8 billion. © Jean-michel Feinen | Dreamstime.com Most of the CHF 71 billion collected came from VAT (29%) and federal income and profits tax (32%). Other big contributors were withholding tax (12%) and fuel tax (6%). At around 21% of GDP,...

While many national governments, such as the US and UK, regularly spend more than they collect, Switzerland managed a CHF 2.8 billion surplus in 2017. In addition, CHF 2 billion of withholding tax is expected, which would push the surplus up to CHF 4.8 billion. © Jean-michel Feinen | Dreamstime.com Most of the CHF 71 billion collected came from VAT (29%) and federal income and profits tax (32%). Other big contributors were withholding tax (12%) and fuel tax (6%). At around 21% of GDP,...