Tag Archives: Editor’s Choice

After the successful vote to raise Swiss state pensions by one twelfth (a 13th month payment), the question of how to fund the extra CHF 4.2 billion a year required has been preoccupying many in Bern. This week, a parliamentary commission voted 13 versus 12 to postpone the question and to tackle it later during planned discussions aimed at reforming the pension system more generally, reported SRF. © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.comMany behind the vote argued a 13th month pension payment...

After increasing for three quarters in a row, residential property prices in Switzerland fell during the first quarter of 2024, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Photo by Louis on Pexels.comThe Swiss residential property price index (IMPI) fell by 1.0% in the period from January to March 2024. At the same time prices remained 1.5% higher than they were a year earlier. The prices of both apartments (-1.3%) and single-family homes (-0.7%) contributed to the...

Consumer prices in Switzerland increased by 0.316% in April 2024, rising 1.4% over the previous 12 months, reported Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) this week. However, annualised, the monthly rate comes to 3.79%, a rate well above the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) preferred maximum of 2%. Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.comApril’s 0.3% monthly price increase was driven by several factors including rising prices for packaged holidays abroad (+6.7%), airfares (+3.4%) and...

This week, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced a record quarterly profit for the first quarter of 2024. The result was largely predicted after the SNB made a surprise interest rate cut, which led to a weaker Swiss Franc. Switzerland’s central bank is unusual. It is privately owned (mainly by a German citizen) but distributes much of its profit to the nation’s cantons and federal government. This feature adds to the politicisation of monetary policy in Switzerland as it increases the...

Data published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show a 2.5% rise in spending on healthcare in Switzerland in 2022. The increase is below the average rate of 3.2% over the five years before. © Polly In | Dreamstime.comDuring 2022, Switzerland spent CHF 91.5 billion on healthcare, which is more than CHF 10,000 per person. Between 2021 and 2022, spending rose CHF 2.2 billion. The largest cost components were hospital costs (32.6 billion), aged care (14.5 billion) and...

The cost of healthcare and the compulsory insurance residents must pay to fund it continue to rise. In 2022, healthcare spending rose 2.5%. At the same time, dental care is not covered. Politicians from the Green Party would like it included in basic cover. However, parliament voted against the idea this week, reported RTS. © Francisco Javier Zea LaraThe argument in favour of including dental care in basic insurance is that people on low incomes cannot afford the complimentary insurance...

A new study suggests that doctors and hospitals are overcharging by more than one billion francs every year, reported SRF. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.comSome in the medical profession have questioned the sum, which came from doctoral research done by Larisa Petrov. Petrov is a lawyer and head of legal at the consulting firm Blacklight Analytics. She did the research while working as a lawyer at Helsana Insurance The excessive charges fall into two broad categories: overpriced...

This week, a government proposal presented as an alternative to a referendum aimed at limiting healthcare costs was rejected by initiative organisers. This means the question will be put to voters. © Alexey Novikov | Dreamstime.comThe initiative, which is supported by the Centre Party, would require actors in the healthcare system to agree on cost-cutting measures if healthcare costs grow significantly faster than wages and the economy – cost growth more than 20% higher than the nominal...

Data published this week reveal Switzerland’s cantonal crime hotspot, a phenomenon connected to geography. Basel Police © Neydtstock | Dreamstime.comIn 2023, after a sharp rise, the canton of Basel-City recorded the largest number of violent crimes and the highest per capita rates of theft and burglary. The rate of violent crime reached 13.2 per 1,000 residents in the city in 2023. The number of property crimes, which includes theft and burglary rose to 21,329 in 2023, a figure 18%...

A study published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows nearly 1 in 10 (9.9%) people in Switzerland has trouble making their money last until the end of the month. And, 4.9% had to go without goods, services or social activities due to a lack of money. The study is a European comparison of life satisfaction and draws on data from 2022. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.comDespite the financial challenges faced by some, Switzerland had the highest average life...