Archive – Democracy

‘Immigration leads to a healthier state’

This content was published on Jul 2, 2013 The research, carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), showed that the fiscal impact of immigration is almost neutral in most cases, with Luxembourg and Switzerland proving to be positive exceptions. The 2013 International Migration Outlook estimated that migrants boosted Swiss tax coffers by CHF6.5 billion ($6.85 billion), equivalent to 1.9…

The Swiss vote more than any other country

This content was published on Jun 28, 2013 In most democracies, citizens only turn out to vote for elections – presidential, parliamentary or local. It is the representatives they choose on these occasions who take political decisions on their behalf. That’s indirect democracy. In an indirect democracy it is unusual for citizens to be asked to vote on specific issues. One exception in…

Free movement accord helps Swiss workforce

This content was published on Jun 11, 2013 Over the past 11 years, this has had a positive impact on the nation’s economic development, according to a report released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on Tuesday. SECO found that the Swiss labour market was able to absorb the large influx of workers from EU and European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) countries, and…

Middle class boosted by working women

This content was published on May 27, 2013 In real terms, the middle class – defined variously as those earning 70 to 150 per cent of the average wage, or the middle-earning 60 per cent of the population – has a considerably higher income today than in 1990. However it has lost ground in comparison to higher and lower level earners. Despite the…

Reconciling majority and minority interests – or not

This content was published on Apr 17, 2013 In the most recent example on March 3, a law to help parents wishing to combine work and family – for example by supporting the provision of child-care facilities – was accepted by over 54 per cent of those who turned out to vote. It had already got the blessing of the cabinet, and sailed…

Weighing up the consequences of a minimum wage

This content was published on Apr 12, 2013 Parliament will take up the issue in the near future and the Swiss are expected to vote on it next year at the earliest. But the people’s initiative on minimum wages, “For the Protection of Fair Salaries,” is already spurring much debate. The initiative calls for the introduction of a minimum legal wage of CHF22…

Rightwing bid to change cabinet election

This content was published on Apr 2, 2013 Those opposed to the initiative, including the seven-member cabinet, argue the change in the constitution would lead to “American-style” costly and time consuming election campaigns for candidates, weakening parliament and undermining political stability. The initiative – the third such attempt in the history of modern day Switzerland – is indeed aimed at overturning an element of…

Money and faces could decide cabinet election

This content was published on Apr 2, 2013 On June 9, voters are being asked if they want to elect the members of the cabinet. If they say “yes”, money would be the most pressing issue reckons Moritz Leuenberger, Switzerland’s transport minister between 1995 and 2010. Leuenberger experienced numerous elections first hand. Parliament elected and re-elected him as a cabinet member, and voters…

First-ever drop in Swiss rail passengers

This content was published on Mar 26, 2013 Whereas leisure and tourist travel were down, business and commuter travel continued to grow, Federal Railways spokesman Daniele Pallecchi confirmed on Tuesday. In spite of the decline in leisure travel, the number of kilometres travelled by passengers on international routes increased by roughly six per cent, in particular on the route between Zurich and Paris…

Swiss rail accidents raise safety questions

This content was published on Mar 13, 2013 Some have also caused considerable disruption to passengers. On Wednesday Swiss Federal Railways reported an incident at Geneva Airport when just before 5 a.m. a regional train ran into an empty train standing at the station, causing slight damage to both. No one was injured but one in six trains between Geneva and Geneva airport…

Archive – Democracy

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Archive – Democracy

More

‘Immigration leads to a healthier state’

More

The Swiss vote more than any other country

More

Free movement accord helps Swiss workforce

More

Middle class boosted by working women

More

Reconciling majority and minority interests – or not

More

Weighing up the consequences of a minimum wage

More

Rightwing bid to change cabinet election

More

Money and faces could decide cabinet election

More

First-ever drop in Swiss rail passengers

More

Swiss rail accidents raise safety questions

Popular Stories

Most Discussed