Poverty In Switzerland Essay

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The beautiful country of Switzerland is falling into poverty. The cost of living, taxes, and minimum wage are playing key roles in Switzerland’s decline. Those most affected by these are single-parent families, persons without an education higher than the obligatory schooling, foreigners, the elderly, and those who live alone. Given that Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries to live in, its cost is one of the main reasons the country’s citizens are falling into poverty. Health insurance and power are huge factors as their prices are extremely high. The cost of power is 1.7 times higher than in Italy and 1.4 times higher than Germany and France. It also is mandated that everyone must buy health insurance but since the government does not provide a health care service, like the United States’ Obama Care, forcing people to purchase their insurance from private providers that can charge whatever they please. The price of items such as groceries become expensive because of a low tax. The 2.5% tax rate causes the price of an item must stay as it is, placing Switzerland in an endless loop. To account for the outrageous prices they placed the minimum wage at CHF1 25, or $24.50, per hour. If a single person makes under CHF 2,200 per month, they are considered to be living in poverty. A family of four, two parents and two children, were …show more content…

It is rather unfortunate that the native Swiss are struggling to maintain residency in their own household and are unable to find more work. Hugo Fasel, the director of the Caritas Switzerland charity, says that “education is key” in the fight against poverty but this statement is aimed more towards those who have immigrated to Switzerland and less towards the elderly folk for whom it is too late. The outrageously high prices and low taxes are making it difficult for those living off of the already high minimum wage afford a more comfortable

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