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?

Like, what stops every other country from adopting a Swiss-style political system?

(This is not a rhetorical question, I'm actually curious)

Possible hypotheses I have:

1. Swiss people are very high (IQ | conscientiousness | conflict avoidance | something) and the model would not translate to a culture that doesn't have those traits

It’s a historical artifact of mountain country. Most mountainous regions are similar. The downside of not knowing your President is needing to know too much about neighbors.

James Scott’s “The Art of Being Ungoverned” gets at tgese upland dynamics https://www.amazon.com/Art-Not-Being-Governed-Anarchist/dp/0300