I've lived here 16 years, and that's my distinct impression, even though Switzerland still beats every other country I've visited, I wonder how long it will last.

For example, trains are now often late (and that without any announcement, explanation or apology).

Roads are now not in the great condition they were earlier (again, they are certainly better than in most other countries, just not as good as they used to be).

There seems to me to be more fraud and violence about.

And it is getting more difficult to find competent people to do reliable work (at least as compentent and reliable as in the past) - and my experience ranges from accountancy to technology.

But perhaps in the experience of others, Switzerland is getting better?

I've been here for 20 years.

Some things have got worse and others have got better.

Things that have deteriorated are the old fashioned Swiss values such as cleanliness, punctuality, reliability.

Things that have improved are such things as more choice in shops, more choice in food and restaurants, more varied and better entertainment. More frequent trains.

Has the country as a whole got better or worse? It depends how you look at it.

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop....

I always thought this cleanliness of Swiss people is a myth. We visited so many apartment and clean was definitely not an abjectif I would have give to most of them...

If you throw all of your stuff (e.g. cigarette butts) into the street and someone cleans up after you, are you really clean?

Switzerland is so clean people eat off the floor!!!!!

Swiss banking non secrecy though, that's going to reduce the standard of living a bit


Anything that's getting worse in this country is of course the fault of immigration! I know because I've seen the adverts telling me so!

Switzerland has changed in the 23 years I've lived here. Swiss values and standards are being replaced by international ones - for better or worse.

We are witnessing the long-term decline of the west and the rise of the east. Even so, compared to the UK in the same period, Switzerland has stood still.

Very good points...I'm still trying to absorb just how much La Cote has been changing over the last 7 years, it's increasingly looking/sounding like the US/UK - and I was trying to steer clear of that

Good example.
When I first arrived in Switzerland I remember the older folks would sometimes shout at people who dropped litter. I'm not saying that's a good way to deral with the problem, but it shows how extremely unnacceptable it was back then. Today it is indeed just the efforts of the cleaners that keeps the streets as clean as they are.

The rail transport is brilliant-no leaves on the line here. However I have to blame Swiss customs for the jam as far back as the airport in the mornings. Anyone would think the Swiss don't like foreigners.

Its not that they dont like them. Its that they dont trust them!

Yes, I recall such instances too. People were more prepared to take a stand if they considered something to be unacceptable. Civil Courage I suppose. On the other hand - as far as litter is concerned - there was much less to consume and most of what was discarded was paper. This age of plastic bags, bottles and aluminium tins needs a shake-up. Migros and Coop and their irk should be accountable for getting rid of packaging. Five slices of ham, packed in thick plastic, printed in four or more colours and then labelled with a coloured price ticket should be outlawed.

We are silly enough to buy Pavasacs in the Migros to throw their rubbish away. Let's all take all empty packaging back to these stores and watch how the problem would quickly go away.

I have ben unpacking the stuff in the shop and leaving the package behind for quite a few years and know other people who do the same. As long as customers something buy because of the nice package nothing will change though.

Well it all depends on what quality is, doesn't it?

I wouldn't want to live in many towns around the lake of Zürich. Too many foreigners who refuse to get involved with the local life. I prefer a village where I know the shopkeepers, the neighbours and the parents of my children's friends.

You think Switzerland is on the decline, try living in the UK!

Bit hard if the local life refuses to get involved with anyone who doesn't speak Swiss German, or who speaks Bon Allemand. Integrating is a lot easier in the Romandie or in Ticino.

Too many foreigners? I just moved here the states. I may not seem "involved" as I am still learning German, and learning how to find my way around Zurich. This is an expat forum, I would expect some more leniency with such "foreigners." I am thankful that so far people in my immediate community of Oerlikon seem understanding of my situation if I need help.

It is the same worldwide. Everything has gone up in price, customer service became crap, people are mostly trying to rip you off, quality of goods went downhill. If you have good contractors, lawyers, mechanics, doctors, etc, you need to hold on to them for dear life. Switzerland is holding up ok compared to G7 countries. If you go to other places looking for improvement in quality of life, you are in for a nasty shock.

In my opinion compared to the UK living in Switzerland is great but try Munich which is much cleaner than Zurich.

Try flying into the USA as a foreigner and you will think Switzerland is paradise