Latest News Roundup in Switzerland on a Monday
In the heart of Europe, Switzerland continues to make headlines, but for different reasons this time. While the country is known for its rich economy, a recent study by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) sheds light on a pressing issue: making new dwellings more habitable in the summer.
According to Gianrico Settembrin, an architect and researcher at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, new buildings in Switzerland are designed to withstand winter's chill, but they may become too hot in the summer due to large south-facing windows. To address this issue, the SFOE study suggests using sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and economical methods such as bed cooling systems, fans, cooling textiles, and 'geocooling' to cool buildings.
The study comes at a time when Switzerland faces a unique challenge in the global trade arena. According to an analysis carried out by the job platform Indeed, the number of home office jobs in Switzerland reached a new high in the second quarter of 2025, with 14 percent of all job advertisements offering 'working from home' positions. However, the country is grappling with higher tariffs on its exports, particularly in sectors like Swiss watchmaking, machinery, and metals.
The tariff increase, which reached 39 percent compared to about 15 percent on most imports from EU countries, was primarily due to the large U.S. trade deficit in goods with Switzerland, a focus of President Trump's trade policy. The higher tariffs particularly impact Swiss companies such as Victorinox, creating significant cost pressures.
The Economist magazine ranked countries based on three criteria, and Switzerland was found to be the richest nation among 178 countries examined, but only in the per-person GDP category. However, when GDP is adjusted for local costs of living and hours worked, Switzerland falls to the 5th place.
The trade tariffs have left Swiss politicians and economists puzzled. MP Fabian Molina stated that no one could explain why Switzerland was slapped with such high tariffs and no one could say what will happen next. The US lawmakers discussed these tariffs during their meeting with Swiss parliament members.
For a deeper understanding of the study's findings and the country's economic standing, readers are advised to read "Are people in Switzerland really the world's richest?"
In the face of these challenges, Switzerland continues to adapt and innovate, striving to maintain its position as a global leader in both economy and sustainability.
- Amidst Switzerland's economic struggles due to increased tariffs on its exports, particularly in sectors like Swiss watchmaking, machinery, and metals, the country's political sphere and economists are left baffled, as no clear explanation has been provided for these tariffs.
- In response to the growing need for comfortable living spaces as more jobs in Switzerland transition to remote work, scientists and environmental researchers are exploring sustainable and economical methods such as bed cooling systems, fans, cooling textiles, and 'geocooling' to cool buildings, thereby addressing the issue of sweltering summer temperatures in new dwellings.
