Tag Archives: Politics

Switzerland has strict zoning and construction laws. Federal land use planning laws (LAT) were first proposed in 1979. Since becoming law they have been through a number of modifications. A successful vote in 2013 tightened zoning rules further. This week, SRF reported on two houses that ended up on the demolition list. Photo by Minsu B on Pexels.comDespite municipal construction approval, certain homes are on the hit list. One in the canton of Ticino has already been demolished and...

Share this article It’s hard to imagine where we would be today in terms of economic progress, industrial production capacity and labour dynamics if Henry Ford never existed. The revolutionary system he pioneered in the early 20th century, largely known for implementing the concept of the “assembly line” (which, notably, was actually invented by Ransom Eli Olds, and merely popularized by Ford), forever changed the way companies thought about production processes.  It massively increased...

Share this article Interview with Godfrey Bloom I recently had the great pleasure of being interviewed by my good friend Godfrey Bloom, whose point of view and sharp assessment skills of economic and political events I have consistently found illuminating throughout the years.  It’s always extremely refreshing talking to Godfrey, because his questions cut through the noise and concentrate on what is actually important. I find his views and arguments are also deeply thought...

Relative to the price of many things, the price of milk in Switzerland is low. A litre of milk in a Swiss supermarket typically costs between CHF 1.50 and CHF 2.00. Plant milk alternatives often cost close to CHF 3.00. Of the retail price paid for milk only 70 cents makes it into the pockets of dairy farmers. Milk Switzerland © William Bode | Dreamstime.comThis week, dairy producers in Zurich announced the creation of an association to set a higher price. The current price of 70 cents is...

Share this article Separating the signal from the noise Most regular readers and friends will undoubtedly already know what my position is in regards to projections and forecasts. For many years, I have consistently maintained that any and all attempts to “time the market” are as useless as they are unrealistic and I have always urged all responsible and rational investors to be extremely wary and suspicious of anyone that claims they can accurately predict market behavior. Innumerable...

Currently, it is impossible for individuals to legally escape their debts in Switzerland, even when they have no chance of ever paying them back. Some find themselves trapped in debt for the rest of their lives. This week, the Federal Council unveiled a new legal procedure that will offer some heavily indebted people a second chance, reported RTS. Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.comAs an increasing number of people in Switzerland find themselves stuck in a debt trap, political pressure...

Share this article Having worked in the precious metals industry for decades, I have had countless opportunities to have very honest and very enlightening conversations with numerous investors and partners alike. For many years, I’ve been discussing the challenges, the hurdles and the problems they’ve encountered. The details of each story I’ve heard might be as unique as the person who shared it with me, however, most of these accounts have a common denominator. Nearly all of them revolve...

In 2023, Swiss voters accepted a plan to provide subsidies to replace oil and basic electric heating with cleaner more efficient heating, such as electric heat pumps. The plan involved spending CHF 200 million a year on such incentives over a 10-year period starting on 1 January 2025. However, Switzerland’s federal parliament decided in December 2024 to cut the quantum of the subsidies in 2025 by one quarter, reported RTS. Photo by alpha innotec on Pexels.comThis belt tightening by...

Until 31 December 2024 it was possible to enter Switzerland with CHF 300 of shopping per person per day without paying Swiss VAT. From 1 January 2025, the limit is CHF 150 per person per day. Carrefour © Viorel Dudau | Dreamstime.comThe Federal Council decided in October 2024 to cut the tax-free limit, despite negative reactions from many consumers and consumer associations. Politicians in some of the border cantons, St. Gallen and Thurgau in particular, have long lobbied for a...

Share this article As we’re approaching the final hours of 2024, it is a good time to take a step back and remember what this year taught us. History might not repeat itself, but it does rhyme, as the saying goes, and the past is always the best teacher to prepare us for the future. For many of our fellow humans, 2024 was yet another turbulent year, filled with terrible strife, war, death, pain and indescribable suffering. The two ongoing war fronts and the images that reach us all...