Switzerland's Economy: The Swiss Phenomenon Essay

The healthcare systems of Switzerland and the United States are quite similar in some aspects and vastly different in others. In Switzerland, the healthcare is universal and available to all. It is provided by private individual insurance companies and subsidized by the government when needed. Basic health insurance is required to be purchased within 3 months of residency or after birth and is an individual’s choice as to what carrier they choose. Of course, there are exceptions to this mandate but they are very few.("Healthcare in Switzerland," “n.d.”, para. 1) Because of this requirement, 99.5% of the population in Switzerland has

the aim of getting a Constitutional Republic is to put limits on the “tyranny of the bulk.” It protects the unalienable rights of individuals from an overwhelming government. Alexis Delaware author wrote, “If, on the opposite hand, a legislative power may be therefore implanted on represent the bulk while not essentially being the slave of its passions, associate govt therefore on retain a

Because of the principles of direct democracy, the Arizona’s Constitution was created. With direct democracy citizens were responsible for governing themselves, not the elected representatives. America’s founders felt that direct democracy was impractical and unwise when they wrote the United Constitution in 1787. Although, the Progressive movement believed the government was no good and the only way to restore a fair government was to give power to the citizens. They struggle for the adoption of the initiative, citizens did not have to get permission from officials establish their own statues and constitutional measures; they needed 15% vote to get on ballot. Adoption of referendum, citizens could reject statues and constitutional measures adopted by official; they needed majority vote by Legislature to get on ballot, with the adoption of recall, official could be removed from office before the end of their term; they needed 25% to call a recall election. Finally, at the peak of the Progressive Movement Arizona became a state. The reasons the

The Federalist papers instituted the several advantages of a Constitutional democracy. For instance, in a Constitutional democracy, the government is restricted by legal means so that the rights of individuals are respected (Quigley). As the Federalist No. 22 affirms, “the consent of the people” is the “pure,

the Constitution is living. It is very limited on what is changed, and why. Many politicians

The Constitution is meant to be a living document, one that changes and adapts to the ideals of the generations following the original Framers. This is evidenced by the Nineteenth Amendment which guarantees that American women have the right to vote. During the eighteenth century allowing women to vote would have been unheard of but as the country’s views changed, the Constitution changed with it. Article V of the Constitution addresses amending the constitution and the ratification of said amendments.

‘The absence of a written constitution ... enables constitutional change to be brought about within the United Kingdom with the minimum of constitutional formality.’

We want rights, freedom, and equality. But we also need some sort of structure. As people we need a say in how we live our lives but we cannot just do as we please. We can’t have the government gaining too much power but we need to still be controlled. Harmony in all aspects is what we are sought after, we want and need a balance. Direct democracy is a way to get citizens involved and united. It helps keep the government transparent, you cannot make promises to the people and then not keep them because you run the risk of the people removing you from power. It holds everyone accountable, the officials to do what they promised and to fix the problems within society and the people to keep their government going in the right direction. “The individual is foolish, the species is wise.” (Burke). Together we are better.

Research Question: Is Switzerland’s direct democratic government more efficient than the united states representative government?

There is a dispute between people who are against the codified constitution and those who are arguing for it during the last two centuries. People who believe that a codified constitution is more suitable for democratic countries have strong points. For example, Heywood (2013) notifies that a codified constitution entrenches major constitutional principles and protects individual liberty. On the other hand, a codified constitution can be considered more rigid and can make it much difficult for the government and society to deem and balance new reality if the circumstances change. This essay is not going to discuss the strength and drawbacks of a codified constitution, but it is going to analyze how both codified and uncodified constitution deal with developed conflicts and unexpected circumstances. Moreover, this essay will examine examples from history and constitutions of such countries as China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Israel. My conclusion will be that it does not matter if the state has a codified or uncodified constitution, because the most important fact is that any constitution should be flexible enough to reflect political realities and respond on changed political circumstances.

The German economy is the largest in Europe and worldwide Germany has the fifth largest economy (“World fact book”, n.d.). It is clear that the German economy holds a key position in the world marketplace. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is an important consideration for foreign investment as it speaks to the overall health of an economy. GDP growth can be attributed to spending and investments both on and from imports and exports (“What is GDP”, 2005). In 2014 the reported GDP growth rate in Germany was 1.4%, up .9 % from the prior year (“World fact book” n.d.). The Eurozone was deeply affected by a recession stemming from the US and made worse by poor economic conditions in Greece and Spain, among other countries in

‘Why are the Western nations small and yet strong? What are we large and yet weak? We must search for the means to become their equal ... At first they may take the foreigners as their teachers and models; then they may come to the same level and be their equals; finally they may move ahead and surpass them. Herein lies the way to self-strengthening.’1

The GDP value of Switzerland represents 1.11 percent of the world economy. GDP in Switzerland averaged 215.89 USD Billion from 1960 until 2013, reaching an all time high of 696.31 USD Billion in 2011 and a record low of 9.52 USD Billion in 1960. GDP in Switzerland is reported by the World Bank Group.

Globalization is commonly examined by simply dissecting its political and economic consequences. As a result, the effects on culture are often overlooked. According to U.S. Census projections, by 2043 non-Hispanic whites will become a minority consisting of 47 percent of the U.S. population (Barreto, et al 1). Examining the world as a whole, a 2015 study by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division found that between 1950-2000, an average of 2.8 million people per year migrated to North America and Europe. From 2000-2015, that rate accelerated to 4.1 million per year. What is more, this study projects that from 2015-2050, 91 million people are expected to migrate to high-income countries and produce an 82 percent increase in population in destination countries. Clearly, the prospect of steady migration and the continuing effects of globalization are expected to produce more multicultural societies. Unfortunately for many, “foreign” has become synonymous with danger (Rothkopf). The debate between cultural unity and cultural plurality dates back to the Greeks where they questioned universal human goodness and the differences between societies. More than two millennia later, the issue of a common versus diverse human culture remains contentious. This paper argues that a diverse human culture is more desirable than a universal culture because states and societies benefit from promoting and protecting diversity.

Why Nations Fail takes an in depth look into why some countries flourish and become rich powerful nations while other countries are left in or reduced to poverty. Throughout this book review I will discuss major arguments and theories used by the authors and how they directly impact international development, keeping in mind that nations are only as strong as their political and economical systems.