Lessons From The Swiss Welfare State

Trigger

Recently I read this article in the Neue Zuericher Zeitung titled “Die Methode Zuckerbrot und Peitsche” (Carrots and sticks approach to social welfare programs, German language) published on 9/16/2013.

This article describes that there are positive and negative incentives for welfare recipients in Switzerland. To receive welfare requires a minimum of work effort on part of the recipient. You might call it a quid pro quo system.  Recipients who are not cooperative will receive less. Possible welfare abuse is investigated and punished.

Requiring, e.g. public works like cleaning trash or attending parks etc. has convinced some recipients to quickly find other alternatives or take a job.

The Swiss Are Pragmatic

Not only have the Swiss frequent referenda on political issues of the day, they also have a more free market health insurance than many Western countries and so forth.

I think, there is something to be learnt from the land of Wilhelm Tell!