I write about demographic developments, societal trends and debates in Switzerland.
I joined SWI swissinfo.ch after 15 years at a local newspaper in Zurich.
Is Zurich forcing Christian homes to tolerate assisted suicide?
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Christian care homes see their autonomy and freedom of religion as being under threat as a result of the vote on assisted suicide in Zurich.
Digital love: what men and women seek in AI relationships
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AI is turning digital love into a mass phenomenon. Swiss evolutionary psychologist Désirée Popelka surveyed both male and female users. Despite differing expectations, she found they had a similar underlying need.
The three-child trap: where the Swiss family model hits a wall
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Across the globe, rising childlessness is the main driver for plunging birth rates. Switzerland, however, tells a different story.
Why family support policies fail to gain traction in Switzerland
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Family policy in Switzerland lags behind the rest of Europe – in part because of the country’s prosperity, according to political scientist Silja Häusermann.
A skirmish at a Swiss swimming pool prompts debate on women’s versus trans rights
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The case of a trans woman who was escorted out of the women’s section of a popular outdoor pool shows that Switzerland has not yet adapted to accommodate the queer community.
Swiss birth rate hits all-time low as new challenge looms
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In times of economic crisis, couples put off having children. Now, on top of this, comes an existential fear: will AI make us superfluous?
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AI may close the productivity gap left by ageing populations, or instead drive mass job losses and reshape global wealth. Which scenario emerges will depend on choices made today.
Switzerland expands as Europe contracts and neither is happy
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Demographic change and workforce migration are transforming Europe and Switzerland. Profound disruptions are on the horizon.
Seven graphics showing how LGBTIQ+ people are doing in Switzerland
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What is it like to live as a queer person in Switzerland? A study sheds light on discrimination, coming out, and self-harm.
Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’
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In Switzerland, all deaths through assisted suicide must be followed by a medical and legal investigation. This entails considerable costs for the state.
Swiss politicians decide against monitoring assisted-suicide tourism
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How many people travel to Switzerland to end their lives? Swiss politicians do not want a precise count. Parliament has rejected a proposal to introduce monitoring.
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As living space becomes scarce and prices soar, calls for government intervention grow louder. But which measures truly make a difference? Seven examples from Basel to Singapore.
Assisted death should be discussed in Swiss schools, say young people
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Assisted deaths have risen in Switzerland, but key questions are still avoided, say participants in the parliamentary “Youth Session.” They urge that assisted suicide be covered in schools.
Renters who land a publicly owned flat in Zurich hit the jackpot
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Thousands of residents benefit from Zurich’s low-cost municipal housing. But not all tenants actually meet the city’s eligibility criteria.
How Switzerland became liberal on abortion – without noticing
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From 2027 Swiss health insurers will cover the full cost of abortions. The change passed through parliament almost unnoticed.
Surgery for trans adolescents: the laws in Switzerland
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Swiss politicians are discussing a ban on gender reassignment surgery for under-18s. We explain what rights parents and children have.
Green promises: the two faces of the Swiss cement giant Holcim
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On the very day Holcim is fighting against a climate lawsuit in a court in Zug, the Swiss cement company is promoting its Net Zero plans at a congress just a few kilometres down the road.
