Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy
The United Nations in Geneva – before and during the pandemic
With the exception of a few organisations and institutions that continue to operate in person, such as the UN Human Rights Council, which is currently conducting its Universal Periodic Review process, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the WHO and some permanent missions to the United Nations, most day-to-day business and multilateral activities are conducted online.
Read More »
Read More »
Swiss competition watchdog to investigate Mastercard
The competition authority suspects the global credit card firm of using its position to prevent the rollout of a new, more uniform, ATM system across Switzerland.
Read More »
Read More »
Residential property prices continue to rise
Residential property prices in Switzerland rose sharply in the final quarter of 2020, and by an average 2.5% for the year as a whole, according to the Federal Statistics Office.
Read More »
Read More »
Hear Swiss stories for the world on The Swiss Connection podcast
What’s it like to move back to – or away from – Switzerland during a pandemic? What does gold mined in Peru have to do with Switzerland? Did you know that “nostalgia” is a Swiss invention?
Read More »
Read More »
Report shows slump in foreign investment in Swiss real estate
The share of foreign investment in Swiss commercial real estate fell from 15% before 2011 to 5% between 2017 and 2019, according to new research. The issue of foreigners buying cheap Swiss property during the Covid-19 pandemic is being discussed in Bern.
Read More »
Read More »
Swiss spent record amount on food in 2020
Consumers spent 11.3% more on food and beverages in brick-and-mortar shops last year than they did in 2019, helping the food retail trade to pull in a record turnover of nearly CHF30 billion ($33.7 billion).
Read More »
Read More »
Covid changes Swiss holiday and transport habits
A third of Swiss people chose not to travel on holiday last year as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world, according to automobile association Touring Club Switzerland (TCS).
Read More »
Read More »
‘Looking after citizens’ ID data is a sovereign task’
Lawyer and parliamentarian Sibel Arslan explains why she is against the proposed new law on digital identity (eID) and why rejecting it would be an opportunity for digitisation.
Read More »
Read More »
Switzerland experiences highest unemployment rate in a decade
The unemployment rate in Switzerland rose again in January, reaching 3.7% - the highest level since April 2010.
Read More »
Read More »
The introduction of women’s suffrage worldwide
Switzerland was one of the last countries to grant women their right to vote, preceding only 22 other countries worldwide. Today, only one country doesn't allow women voters to cast their ballot in national elections, just because there aren't any. In Vatican City, an absolute monarchy, the legislators are appointed by the Pope. Neither male nor female citizens have the right to vote.
February 7, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of Swiss women's...
Read More »
Read More »
Protecting livestock from predators costs Swiss taxpayers millions
The federal government spends CHF4 million (around $4.4 million) a year to minimise the damage caused by predators like wolves and lynx.
Read More »
Read More »
Can Novartis really make its medicines available to everyone?
Novartis has said it wants everyone in the world to be able to access its products, even multi-million-dollar gene therapies. Can its experiment work?
Read More »
Read More »
Are Switzerland’s new tax breaks for companies a licence to misbehave?
Switzerland has announced that companies will be able to deduct multi-million dollar fines incurred abroad from their tax bill. Critics argue it rewards bad behaviour.
Read More »
Read More »
Julius Baer: mast do better
Swiss private bank Julius Baer has benefitted from rising global markets over the past year, but can it keep it up the momentum?
Read More »
Read More »
Switzerland’s four languages
The Swiss are known for their multilingualism. The proportion of polyglots has increased slightly since 2014, according to a new report from the Federal Statistical Office. Over two-thirds of adults regularly use more than one language. They need these skills to communicate with each other, either in the workplace or across the four distinct language regions.
The majority speak German, followed by French, Italian and Romansh. The latter is in...
Read More »
Read More »
Is the grass greener outside the EU?
Britain argues that Brexit will make British agriculture greener. SWI Swissinfo.ch looks at how successful EU agricultural policies have been, and how they compare with Switzerland’s approach.
Read More »
Read More »
Indonesia’s palm oil angers Swiss anti-globalisation activists
A free trade agreement between Switzerland and Indonesia has been challenged to a nationwide vote. The controversy focuses on the production and imports of palm oil.
Read More »
Read More »
Deal or no Deal: How five non-member states handle EU relations
With Brexit done, Switzerland is hoping it can restart negotiations on its framework agreement with the European Union. The experience of other non-member states offers some valuable lessons on how it can engage with Brussels, though no blueprint exists. SWI swissinfo.ch looks at how five other non-member states have negotiated with the EU.
Read More »
Read More »
Pandemic dents Swiss appetite for new cars
Covid-19 has been blamed for a 17.8% decline in car registrations in Switzerland last year. The number of motor vehicle sales fell even further – by nearly a quarter.
Read More »
Read More »
Johnson & Johnson Swiss branch relocation threatens 320 jobs
American pharma group Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is to transfer four of its canton Neuchâtel-based subsidiaries to other locations – including abroad. The move is expected to result in the loss of up to 320 jobs by mid-2023.
Read More »
Read More »