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Boon and bane of media for direct democracy

This content was published on Oct 29, 2016 Moritz Leuenberger was invited by the University of Bern to a discussion on the changing face of the media and its impact on direct democracy. He identified several major factors at play: the growing role of social media, the dramatic loss in revenue from advertising and a trend towards simplification, emotions and personal antagonism. In…

Rail ticket machines to offer bitcoins

This content was published on Oct 28, 2016 To use the service, customers need to have a bitcoin wallet. They must also identify themselves over their mobile phones and enter a security code. They will be able to exchange up to CHF500 for bitcoins, with an upper limit of CHF5,000 to guard against money laundering. Swiss laws were changed at the start of…

Swiss among European leaders for post office closures

This content was published on Oct 28, 2016 The Swiss Post’s announcement to close 600 traditional post offices follows a trend across Europe.

UBS gears up for more heavy fines

This content was published on Oct 28, 2016 On Thursday, the bank announced it had added another $421 million (CHF418 million) to its pot covering alleged malpractice in the way it sold mortgage backed securities before the financial crisis. But the $1.4 billion it now holds in anticipation of fines in this area pales in comparison to the $14 billion that Deutsche Bank…

Switzerland’s endangered species on show

This content was published on Oct 28, 2016 Rare Swiss breeds are being saved from extinction by the ProSpecieRara foundation. Traditional breeds are often more robust and cheaper to maintain.

Swiss rail travel more expensive than driving

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 The research revealed the continuation of a trend underway for several years, with train passengers consistently asked to pay more for travel despite negative inflation. Motorists, on the other hand, have benefited from falling petrol and auto prices, which have contributed to a declining overall cost per kilometre driven in Switzerland. Since 1990, costs for…

Study: Huge job boost from turning to machines

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 Switzerland can expect 270,000 new jobs created through the first quarter of this century due to workplace automation transforming the economy.

Swiss cheese threatened by trade deals

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 The report by Switzerland Global Enterprise, which offers government assistance to Swiss companies angling to get a foothold abroad, takes a look at the expected damage to the Swiss economy if the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) gets off the ground. TTIP would lower tariffs and technical trade barriers on a range of…

Opinion

Both Switzerland and Oregon practice direct democracy

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 Switzerland has 26 cantons, which are jurisdictionally similar to counties in Oregon. Initially, democracy in Switzerland was primarily canton-based, and the Swiss conducted elections in a way that resembles current Oregonian politics at the county level. Since 1848, Switzerland has developed a highly participatory direct democracy, which inspired Oregon to adopt a similar political approach.…

Opinion

Democracy gives more satisfaction even if not used

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 No other country in the world offers citizens as extensive means to participate in and influence political decisions on a national level as Switzerland. But even on a federal level, there are only very few states which offer their citizens as much of a say in how they are run as the Swiss cantons. With…

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Boon and bane of media for direct democracy

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Rail ticket machines to offer bitcoins

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Swiss among European leaders for post office closures

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UBS gears up for more heavy fines

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Switzerland’s endangered species on show

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Swiss rail travel more expensive than driving

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Study: Huge job boost from turning to machines

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Swiss cheese threatened by trade deals

More

Both Switzerland and Oregon practice direct democracy

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Democracy gives more satisfaction even if not used

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