Tag Archives: Switzerland

In a new working paper the Swiss Bankers Association identifies challenges for banks. Nevertheless it argues that [a]ny conclusion that the status quo is the least risky option seems premature and shortsighted. … The introduction of digital currencies and design questions regarding payment methods and infrastructure represent strategic business as well as political challenges on which public authorities and business must take a productive position. An informed discussion on the...

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) In 2020, inflation in Switzerland was negative, at -0.7%. It means that, on average, consumer prices have decreased in the year 2020. So, life has become cheaper in Switzerland. But is life in Switzerland really cheaper? And if so, is it cheaper for everybody? Today, I want to delve into inflation numbers for Switzerland and what they exactly mean. As we will see, inflation is not a perfect indicator of the cost of living in...

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) What the Swiss National Bank (SNB) does is not very clear for many people in Switzerland. So, I thought it would be interesting to research this subject and write about my findings. The Swiss National Bank is quite famous, even abroad, but what does it really do? It is because of it that we do not have any interest rate in our bank accounts? Let’s see in detail what this central bank is doing. We will also...

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) What the Swiss National Bank (SNB) does is not very clear for many people in Switzerland. So, I thought it would be interesting to research this subject and write about my findings. The Swiss National Bank is quite famous, even abroad, but what does it really do? It is because of it that we do not have any interest rate in our bank accounts? Let’s see in detail what this central bank is doing. We will also see that the Swiss...

Finanz und Wirtschaft, June 5, 2021. PDF. The debt brake addresses some political economy frictions, but not others. Focusing too narrowly on explicit government debt it provides incentives to accumulate implicit debt, sell assets, or engage in creative accounting. The political pressure to raise SNB profit disbursements is a symptom of these incentives.

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) We all want to pay lower taxes! When you fill your tax declaration in Switzerland, it is important to take advantage of all possible tax deductions. Tax deductions allow you to reduce your taxable income. Since your taxable income will directly drive the amount of taxes you are going to pay, it is essential to reduce it when possible. So, in this article, I want to go into detail about all the possible tax deductions that exist...

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) We all want to pay lower taxes! When you fill your tax declaration in Switzerland, it is important to take advantage of all possible tax deductions. Tax deductions allow you to reduce your taxable income. Since your taxable income will directly drive the amount of taxes you are going to pay, it is essential to reduce it when possible. So, in this article, I want to go into detail about all the possible tax...

I have long thought about and written about the incredible opportunities that decentralized digital technologies have brought forward, especially when it comes to solving financial and monetary problems. The more these technologies and their applications develop and mature, the more I believe they hold many of the answers to some our most complex challenges. Chief among them is the future of money itself: the idea of a decentralized, robust and independent system of freely competing...

Interview with Robert Hartmann As we enter the second quarter of 2021, the year during which so many mainstream analysts and politicians have predicted we’ll see a miraculous recovery from the covid crisis, it is becoming increasingly clear that the damage inflicted by the lockdowns and the shutdowns is really very extensive an persistent. Of course, I’m referring to the damage to the real economy, that is, to actual businesses, households and the countless citizens...

Interview with Robert Hartmann As we enter the second quarter of 2021, the year during which so many mainstream analysts and politicians have predicted we’ll see a miraculous recovery from the covid crisis, it is becoming increasingly clear that the damage inflicted by the lockdowns and the shutdowns is really very extensive an persistent. Of course, I’m referring to the damage to the real economy, that is, to actual businesses, households and the countless citizens that were...