Switzerland drops in global expat poll

A year after being chosen by foreign residents as top location for living and working, Switzerland dropped to tenth place in an annual survey published by the British-based global bank HSBC. The report, entitled Expat Explorer put the Alpine country behind the favorite Singapore, as well as New Zealand, Sweden, Bahrein, Germany, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. Respondents were asked to rate the countries where they live in terms of economic well-being – including salaries and job security – personal experiences and the family life. This year’s results reflect the views of 22,000 expats living in 39 countries, more than double the 9300 respondents surveyed last year. “Unfortunately we are unable to offer a scientific interpretation to explain the retreat”, HSBC responded in a communiqué, according to Geneva’s Le Temps newspaper. The latest report however put Switzerland in first place in terms of financial well-being, up from second place last year. The study ...