Vitalik Buterin
@vitalik.eth
From a classical liberal perspective, Switzerland's governance seems utopian. Low taxes, good services even for low income people despite the low taxes, very decentralized government, and it really does seem true that "no one bothers to know who the president is". My big question: what's the catch?
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Varun Srinivasan
@v
I wonder if certain swiss cultural norms make some systems positive sum, while they would be zero sum or negative sum with different norms
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Varun Srinivasan
@v
The "downsides" of Swiss government are - no new startups or tech, very high absolute costs of living relative to neighbors
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GolanTrevizΞ 🤘
@golan
Varun’s right: very expensive cost of living. There’s a reason Genevans buy groceries in France. Also pretty buttoned-up culture: in some neighborhoods can’t flush your toilets for “noise pollution” during late hours
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GolanTrevizΞ 🤘
@golan
Their absolute neutrality has significant reputational costs too. Think of the stain of Nazi money laundering decades postwar. P.S. I think Switzerland is a great place. But there are always trade-offs
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