COMMENTARY - The Zurich city council demands top salaries. The thinking behind it is dangerous: the state cannot create wealth itself

The Zurich city council's demand for top salaries is a dangerous precedent, according to commentary in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The article argues that the state cannot independently generate wealth, and the council's pursuit of higher pay undermines fiscal responsibility.

The commentary highlights a concerning trend of escalating wages within the public administration. This rise in public sector salaries is outpacing what many private companies can offer, creating an unsustainable economic dynamic for Switzerland in the long run. The piece suggests that this disparity could lead to a decline in competitiveness and economic stability.

By demanding premium compensation, the city council appears disconnected from the economic realities it oversees. The article implies that such actions could signal a flawed understanding of wealth creation, where the state is perceived as a source of prosperity rather than a facilitator of private enterprise. This perspective is deemed perilous for the nation's future economic well-being.