Archive: Federalism

A Leading Role for Each Level of Government

An analysis of investment flows paints an interesting picture of power-sharing in Switzerland

30.08.2019, Lukas Rühli

Switzerland’s Francophone Powerhouse

The uniquely dynamic momentum of the Lake Geneva region

31.05.2019, Haig Simonian

The Uniquely Dynamic Momentum of the Lake Geneva Region

avenir spécial New avenir special

08.05.2019, Jérôme Cosandey

What is Liberal Urban Politics Like?

Avenir Suisse’s autumn summit tackled the numerous challenges facing cities in future

10.11.2018, Verena Parzer-Epp

Decentralization Has Fostered an Ever Prosperous Switzerland

Five topics that need to be discussed before New Zealand decides to look for the kiwi-version of localism

31.08.2018, Natanael Rother

Yes, we Can: Vote on Everything and with Anyone

On the exercise of direct democracy in Switzerland

29.06.2018, Tibère Adler

Six Scenarios for Switzerland’s Future

Where does the future lie for a small, export dependent country in an era of ever bigger blocs?

31.05.2018, Haig Simonian

Switzerland White Paper

Six sketches for the future

30.05.2018, Peter Grünenfelder, Patrik Schellenbauer, Patrick Dümmler, Jennifer Anthamatten, Verena Parzer-Epp, Marco Salvi, Jakob Schaad, Fabian Schnell, Urs Steiner

Federalism as a Laboratory of Ideas

How Swiss cantons can learn from their neighbors

15.03.2018, Laura Calendo

The Future of Democracy?

Events Impressions from Avenir Suisse's 2018 Think Tank Summit

15.02.2018, Verena Parzer-Epp

Avenir Suisse’s 2017 Freedom Index

New edition Fewer differences between the cantons

12.12.2017, Samuel Rutz, Laura Calendo

Positive Culture of Austerity: Switzerland’s ’Debt Brake’

Focus of the month Since the early 2000’s, Switzerland’s fiscal institutions have been successful in keeping the overall levels of taxation and spending at moderate levels. The Swiss debt brake is the ideal model for other countries lacking fiscal discipline to embrace. Although the debt break is already part of many governments’ policies in the form of typical numerical fiscal rules, the mechanism needs to be used for more than just to stave off the immediate economic threat of becoming overwhelmed by a wave of accumulated state debt.

26.04.2017, Mariusz Lukasiewicz, Tibère Adler

Switzerland’s Federalism Relies Upon Fiscal Competition, but the Financially Weakest Are not Left Alone

Focus of the month Switzerland is the ultimate bottom-up Federal State

20.02.2017, Tibère Adler

NFA 2 – Towards a Revitalisation of Swiss Federalism

The new study by Avenir Suisse calls for the implementation of "NFA 2" (Intercantonal Tax Allocation 2) to fundamentally revitalize the fiscal nature of Swiss federalism. The handling of fiscal transfers between the cantons is to be clarified, and a clearer separation of responsibilities between the federal government and the cantons must be promoted.

13.01.2017, Lukas Rühli, Natanael Rother

New Online Publication: Avenir Suisse Freedom Index 2016

Avenir Suisse’s Freedom Index, which compares Switzerland’s cantons based on various liberal policy criteria, is published annually. The latest edition has been expanded to include additional liberal indicators. Once again, Aargau has held its top slot, and yet again, Geneva remains tail ender.

20.12.2016, Samuel Rutz, Tobias Schlegel

The Myth of the Family Silver

A Privatisation Agenda for Switzerland

21.11.2016, Samuel Rutz

Au revoir Early French

Foreign language teaching is getting the Swiss hot under the collar again – particularly when it comes to which of the four national languages should be taught as a second tongue in primary schools. However the story ends, it would be undesirable to let the issue dilute cantonal responsibility for education, as that would handicap creative solutions from the start.

10.08.2016, Fabian Schnell