Reads like a glowing puff piece, but I like these ideas. "The nation also has a high degree of personal freedom, linked to a decentralized government in which voters are the ultimate sovereign through an elaborate system of direct democracy—citizens can both propose their own laws and challenge any action of the government. As a matter of fact, Swiss citizens may advance new legislation or “initiatives,” which must be put to a nationwide vote if their proponents can round up 100,000 signatures in support of the legislation. By means of referendum, the Swiss can also challenge a piece of legislation already approved by the federal parliament. If opponents of the new legislation amass 50,000 signatures in the first 100 days after the law is published, the electorate is allowed to make the decision." - Sanjeev Singh

So why are all non-legislature-written laws that I am familiar with (California propositions) so often the worst legislation we have? It is typical special interest groups with a good marketing campaign. I am not familiar enough with Switzerland or the California proposition system to understand what the major differences are between them - does the Swiss one really work this well, and if so, why is California's system so broken? - Bret Taylor

Maybe the Swiss are just smarter. - Paul Buchheit

For one thing, their press might be freer. Transparency helps stop shenanigans. - Sanjeev Singh

I like the personal freedom/responsibility the swiss have. If you want to rent a sled and ride down a mountain on it without a helmet, then have a blast, but if you end up in the hospital you can't sue the people that rented it to you. - Evan Parker

Wow: "As a direct investor in the States, Switzerland’s share is greater than all of Latin America, Africa, and Asia (excluding Japan) combined. " - Evan Parker

Women in Switzerland didn't get the vote until 1971. (No joke! http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisd...) Minority rights are more than a bit problematic in a direct democracy. - Matthew Ogle

Norway > Switzerland. In many ways, Norway provides a window into what the middle east should/could/would look like if not for our/britain/europe etc. endless mercantilism: a socially responsible sovereign wealth fund - http://tinyurl.com/3jw58t ; a ridiculous high personal savings rate - http://tinyurl.com/3sn9na ; and definitely don't read this article if you want to see what $1.8B/week - in oil revenues buys for a nation's people - http://tinyurl.com/3wvnzl) =/ - Will DeLuca

"So you might think that all of this good fortune and virtue would make the Norwegians just a little bit fat and self-satisfied? Self-satisfied maybe, but fat, no. According to a new study on obesity, Norwegians are the slimmest people in Europe"..."Most of the Saudi wealth has been pocketed by the royal family. Venture beyond the gilded five-star hotels of Riyadh and Jiddah and you are in a Third World economy struggling with poverty, high unemployment and Islamic radicalism.Russia's oil wealth has raised property values in London's posh Mayfair district and the French Riviera. It also has given Vladimir Putin an intimidating geo political weapon to wield against the West.In developing countries as disparate as Nigeria and Venezuela, the easy money of oil has propped up corrupt and incompetent ruling classes - Will DeLuca

Switzerland is overrated. http://greg.abstrakt.ch/archive... - Gregor J. Rothfuss

I've always been neutral on Switzerland. - Louis Gray

@Kevin: People in nicer weather have historically had less need to save and invest in the future — things like agriculture, fire, housing, sanitation. If you lived in Hawaii and didn't plant your crops, you'd be fine. If you lived in Norway and didn't plant crops, you died. This infrastructure led to larger and more complex societies (although not necessarily democracies). You also needed complex societies in places where you had unfriendly neighbors (e.g., Greece, China, England, Italy). - Amit Patel

It did snow all night in Zurich... well, that's fun for the kids! - Laurent Schneider