What can Americans learn from Switzerland?
1. Political Neutrality
The tiny Alpine republic has maintained a policy of armed neutrality in world politics for decades. Although Switzerland is not the world’s only neutral country—Ireland, Austria, and Costa Rica also take similar non-interventionist positions—it is the oldest and most recognized.
How did it come to hold such a unique position in global politics?
The first movements toward Swiss neutrality date back to 1515, when the Swiss Confederacy was defeated by the French at the Battle of Marignano. Following the defeat, the Confederacy ceased its expansionist policies in order to avoid future conflict for self-preservation. However, it was the Napoleonic Wars that ultimately cemented Switzerland’s position as a neutral nation. In 1798, France invaded Switzerland and made it a client of Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire, forcing it to sacrifice its neutrality. However, following Napoleon’s loss at Waterloo, the main European powers believed that a neutral Switzerland should serve as a beneficial buffer state between France and Austria, contributing to regional security. They signed a declaration proclaiming Switzerland’s “perpetual neutrality” in the international community at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Switzerland maintained its neutral posture throughout World War I, mobilizing its troops and accepting refugees while refusing to take sides militarily. Meanwhile, the newly founded League of Nations acknowledged Swiss neutrality and set its headquarters in Geneva in 1920. A more serious threat to Swiss neutrality arose during World War II, when the country was encircled by the Axis powers. While Switzerland maintained its independence by vowing retribution in the case of an invasion, it dealt extensively with Nazi Germany, a choice that was later criticized after the war.
Switzerland has taken a more active part in international politics after World War II, assisting with humanitarian projects, but it remains staunchly neutral on military matters. It has never joined NATO or the European Union, and it just became a member of the United Nations in 2002. Despite its long-standing neutrality, the country maintains an army for defense purposes and requires all males between the ages of 18 and 34 to serve in the military on a part-time basis.
The United States, on the other hand, is known for its international commitment and role of the ‘enforcer’ of NATO policies. Americans may learn from Switzerland that it’s better sometimes to ‘live and let live’ when it comes to global affairs, that is – it’s better to assess the situation objectively and avoid military confrontation.
But the Swiss’ political neutrality also means that while they love talking about politics, the Swiss are less keen on ‘politicizing’ issues, ideas, and lifestyles. That’s also something that Americans may learn from the Swiss to take it a bit easier in internal affairs.
2. Low Taxes and Low Regulation
Because of its low tax rates, Switzerland is an appealing destination for foreign business owners and investors. The federal Swiss company tax rate is 8.5 per cent, however cantonal and municipal rates can vary significantly. The maximum corporation tax rate, which includes all federal, cantonal, and municipal taxes, is between 11.9 and 21.6 per cent. However, thanks to a variety of allowances and deductions, you’ll normally pay much less. On the contrary, the US tax system can be a burden for both American citizens and foreign investors.
Low tax rates are a major reason why expatriates choose Switzerland. It benefits not just employees but also business owners. You should anticipate paying between 10% and 30% in taxes, depending on your area and income level. Employees in the United States, on the other hand, have an average after-tax income of 77.6 per cent of their gross compensation. Setting up a business is both more profitable and easier in Switzerland than it is in the US.
Another great advantage of the tax system in Switzerland is its subsidies and help for families. For tax reasons, Swiss law considers families to be one unit. If you are married, you must file a joint tax return, and your calculation will be based on your combined income and that of your spouse. This helps with mortgages and setting up a solid economic and financial foundation. Many young families in Switzerland can afford to buy a house early in their relationship.
Swiss people also ‘work to live’, rather than living to work. That means a focus on sports and outdoor activities, and a better life-work balance, meaning happier and more productive people in the long run.
3. Free Healthcare and Education
While the United States has the world’s most expensive healthcare system, spending approximately 17 per cent of its GDP on healthcare services and having an uninsured population of up to 45 million, Switzerland achieves universal healthcare coverage with a healthcare system that ranks seventh in cost and has the world’s second-highest life expectancy (OECD, 2011).
Switzerland gets its world-renowned reputation as having one of the most valuable health-care systems by enforcing universal coverage but enabling its inhabitants to choose their health-care plan from a number of private, competing insurance firms, regardless of employment.
As a result, the United States can learn a lot from Switzerland’s experience. The same can be said regarding education. Swiss students regularly outperform American ones in scholastic evaluations and in statistics on innovation and business acumen. The rate of youth unemployment is way lower in Switzerland than it is in the US. Undergrads can get a free education. In contrast to the US, where being an undergraduate means a pricey mortgage, one for which your parents must save their whole lives, the best Swiss universities charge only 500 CHF a semester, regardless of nationality. This applies to master’s programs as well as world-renowned universities such as EPFL Lausanne and ETH Zurich.
4. Trains Not Cars and Highways
Cars are still a cornerstone of the American sense of self. It’s strange for a young adult in America to choose consciously not to have a license or not to save money for a car. Cars are the most ubiquitous mode of transport in North America and have entered the public culture as well – with the famous ‘all-American road trip’ epitomized by a vintage car drive across the Eastern and Western coasts of the US. At the same time, cars are also one of the most widespread problems in America. Cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, and Detroit suffer from significant air pollution due to cars. But there are no short-term fixes for this problem as federal investment in rail infrastructure is scarce.
On the other hand, in Switzerland, trains run the show. Forget the endless highway crossings! In Switzerland, you can reach pretty much every inhabited village or spot by train. And not only local villages – Switzerland is connected to France, Germany, Italy, and Austria directly by train from Zurich, Geneve, and Basel. It’s easy to visit Europe from Switzerland, thanks to its state-of-the-art rail network. Citizens can buy multiple passes and bundles that make transportation within the country inexpensive.
5. Strict Gun Laws & Gun Control Policies
Since 2001, Switzerland has not experienced a mass shooting.
In a country of 8.3million people, there are approximately 2 million guns that are privately owned. There were 47 attempted murders of firearms in the country in 2016. The country has a near-zero overall murder rate.
To argue that gun ownership rules are unnecessary, the National Rifle Association frequently points to Switzerland. On its blog, the NRA stated that Europe had one of the lowest murder rates. However, it still owned millions of guns privately and a few hunting rifles that don’t require permits.
However, the Swiss have specific rules and regulations regarding gun use.
First of all, most guns in Switzerland are reserved for police or military duty: the armed citizens of Switzerland act as the country’s “latent standing army” against outside meddling. Secondly, gun ownership in Switzerland follows a strict procedure: the region (canton) keeps an archive of all those who own guns or rifles, and the police don’t give licenses lightly. They will often consult a psychiatrist or talk with the prospective gun owner directly to vet them.
Also, it is not permissible to purchase guns in Switzerland for those who have been convicted of a crime or are suffering from an addiction to alcohol or drugs.
The law states that any person who expresses a “violent or dangerous attitude” will not be allowed to own a firearm.
Gun owners who wish to use their weapon “defensively” must also prove that they can load, unload and shoot the weapon. To obtain a license, you will need to pass a test.
In short, there are many things that Americans can learn from the Swiss to live a happier life. The Swiss take it easy and enjoy nature without renouncing the personal freedoms, financial wealth, and political neutrality that characterizes them.