Hannah’s Quicktakes
Where Is the Most ‘Free’ Canton in Switzerland?
Hannah Wise · The Avenir Suisse Freedom Index annually assesses the economic and social freedoms of Swiss cantons. In her concluding video, Hannah Wise explains the methodology as well as the differences between the German-speaking and Latin cantons.
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New Publication
Avenir Suisse Freedom Index 2024
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Aargau regains victory in our ranking of the economic and social freedoms of the cantons. The entire data set is publicly available and allows you to build your own index.
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Lukas Rühli, Eveline Hutter, Jan Marty
Link to the publication |
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The Figure
This corresponds to how much the net salary increases if one doubles one’s workload in Switzerland from 50 to 100% and earns the average salary. This puts Switzerland in a solid second place in Europe. For single people earning the average income, the (marginal) tax rates do not hinder an increase in working hours. (Marco Salvi) |
Labor Market
Full-time vs. Part-time: Do We Need New Incentives in Switzerland?
In Austria, there is a debate about a €1,000 bonus for switching from part-time to full-time work. Similar questions arise in Switzerland regarding tax incentives for transitioning from part-time to full-time employment. An international comparison now shows that Switzerland is relatively well-positioned. However, action is needed in the taxation of married women, as highlighted by our labor market expert, Marco Salvi.
Full-time vs. Part-time: Do We Need New Incentives in Switzerland? |
Essential of the Month
From Pension to Long-Term Care Capital
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As Jérôme Cosandey, Diego Taboada, and Sonia Estevez explain in the latest Essential, the current financing of elderly care is unfair and inefficient. Therefore, they propose the introduction of mandatory long-term care capital.This would partially replace the existing system, which relies on health insurance premiums and taxes, with a capitalized model. |
Jérôme Cosandey, Diego Taboada, Sonia Estevez
Link to the publication |
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Podcast «Think dänk!»
Should Switzerland Open Its Borders?
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Should Switzerland, and the world, open their borders to free migration? In our latest podcast, Ilya Somin, a Professor of Law at George Mason University in Fairfax, USA, and Oliver Zimmer, a historian and research director at the Center for Research in Economics, Management, and the Arts, engage in a thought-provoking discussion. Moderated by Christoph Eisenring from Avenir Suisse, the debate explores the far-reaching implications of open borders and unrestricted migration.
Ilya Somin argues that open borders significantly enhance human freedom. He contends that people living in societies with limited opportunities could achieve higher productivity and prosperity by moving to freer, wealthier countries. For Somin, supporting freedom of movement within nations while opposing it between them is a glaring contradiction. Oliver Zimmer pushes back, describing Somin’s vision as a “libertarian utopia” that overlooks the crucial roles of culture and institution-building. He stresses that democratic societies must retain control over the scale and pace of migration to preserve stability and cohesion.
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