Issue 01/2026: Money.
On wealth and poverty, fears about investing and whether money really does bring happiness.
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DossierMoney, myths and might.
Text: Christoph Dieffenbacher / The oldest coins in the Mediterranean were found in what is now western Turkey, but the circulation of coinage was not ubiquitous in the ancient world. Rather, bartering was the dominant economic system, particularly in times of crisis.
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DossierInvesting begins in the mind.
Text: Noëmi Kern / Many people are nervous about putting their capital in financial assets. But not investing also comes with risks. How can these doubts be overcome? Economist Jacqueline Henn and psychologist Daniel Grosshans offer some answers.
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DossierThe laws of poverty.
Interview: Urs Hafner / Anyone who has to live on less than three dollars a day has to become the manager of their own survival. At the same time, poverty is being criminalized, as legal scholar Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer explains.
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DossierLiving on credit.
Text: Tobias von Rohr / Money is based on a system of trust, promises and expectations. This makes it possible to accrue debts. Far from being a deviation from the norm, debts are the foundation of a modern economy.
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DossierHow can banks better protect themselves against crises?
Text: Barbara Spycher / Major banks must not be allowed to fail. Yet taxpayers shouldn’t end up footing the bill for bailouts. This is why we need new ideas for regulating banks.
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DossierDigital gold.
Text: Fabian Schär / Bitcoin is a purely digital currency, so why does it have value? And what opportunities and risks are associated with it? Crypto expert Fabian Schär offers his perspective.
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DossierA cashless future.
Text: Michelle Isler / How would a society without coins and banknotes function? And what role does the government play in this? A thought experiment.
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DossierFrom bank balance to happiness index.
Text: Noëmi Kern / Is it true that money alone doesn’t bring happiness? Or is that just a cliché to comfort those who are less well-off and who look at the rich and famous with a certain envy?
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In conversation“The U.N. is being put to the test like never before.”
Interview: Samuel Schlaefli* / Iran, Venezuela, Gaza, Ukraine: International law is being violated all over the world. We talk to Andreas Müller, an expert on international law, about the past and present of a fragile but enduring concept.
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OpinionHow is AI changing education, Professor Bogunovic?
Text: Ilija Bogunovic, computer scientist / AI systems are finding their way into the worlds of education and work. What does this mean for schools and universities? Perspectives from computer science.
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OpinionHow is AI changing education, Professor Makarova?
Text: Elena Makarova, educational scientist / AI systems are finding their way into the worlds of education and work. What does this mean for schools and universities? Perspectives from the educational sciences.
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ResearchHaving a say, right to the end.
Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / Can older people still determine their daily lives and make decisions for themselves when they rely on care? A team of researchers at the University of Basel is trying to find out.
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ResearchResearch at the kitchen table.
Text: Lara Uebelhart / Everyday occurrences can inspire research and provide an impetus for academic insights. This is illustrated by a research project about how people from diverse backgrounds live together.
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ResearchWhat puts hormones under stress.
Text: Angelika Jacobs / Electrolyte and water balance, blood pressure and much more: Hormones keep numerous processes in the body in a delicate equilibrium. This can be disrupted by substances from the environment, such as those in plastics.
