Project

Discipline

Small and medium-sized towns; Polycentric development; Urban and regional development; Swiss urban system; Urban policy; Metropolization

Lead
Klein- und mittelgrosse Städte (SMTs) stehen oft im Schatten der Metropolitanräume und finden sowohl in der Wissenschaft wie auch in der Politik wenig Beachtung. Mit diesem Projekt werden die wirtschaftliche und auch politische Bedeutung der SMTs in der Schweiz aufgezeigt.
Lay summary
Klein- und mittelgrosse Städte (SMTs) haben bisher keine bedeutende Rolle in der Wissenschaft und Politik gespielt. Wie sich jedoch aus Ergebnissen einer aktuellen Studie erkennen lässt, weisen SMTs in den EU-15 Staaten ein grösseres wirtschaftliches Wachstum seit 2001 auf als Grossstädte (Dijkstra, Garcilazo, & McCann, 2013). Aus diesen Zahlen lässt sich schliessen, dass SMTs in Zukunft an Bedeutung gewinnen können. Folglich ist es nötig, die Eigenheiten und den wirtschaftlichen Beitrag dieses Städtetyps besser zu verstehen. Das primäre Ziel diese Projektes ist es daher sozioökonomische Aspekte, die spezifischen Rollen und Funktionen von SMTS zu ergründen sowie die politische Strategien, die SMTs wählen, um ihre Position zu stärken, auf ihre Wirksamkeit hin zu untersuchen. Das Entwicklungspotenzial von SMTs in der Schweiz wird aus einer wirtschaftsgeographischen und politikwissenschaftlichen Perspektive untersucht.  Das Projekt integriert wirtschaftsgeographische sowie politikwissenschaftliche Aspekte der SMTs und leistet damit einen Beitrag zu den aufkommenden wissenschaftlichen und politischen Debatten über die Funktion und Rolle von SMTs. Durch die Analyse der Entwicklungspotenziale der Schweizer SMTs und der Wirkung ihrer Positionierungsstrategien können Förderpolitiken angepasst werden.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 07.09.2015

Lead
Small and medium-sized towns (SMTs) have received little attention from both scholars and practitioners in urban and regional development. This research project aims to analyze the economic and political role of SMTs in Switzerland.
Lay summary
Scholars and practitioners have mostly neglected the role of SMTs in the context of spatial development. Yet, recent research demonstrates that for the EU15-nations, small and medium-sized towns have shown higher economic growth rates than the largest cities particularly since 2001 (Dijkstra, Garcilazo, & McCann, 2013). As a result, SMTs may become more important in the future. Consequently, it is necessary to gain more knowledge and information about the characteristics and economic contributions of this type of city. Thus, the main goal of this project is to shed light on socioeconomic aspects, specific roles and functions of SMTs in Switzerland as well as on the success of strategies Swiss SMTs employ to strengthen their position. The project examines the development potential of small and medium-sized towns (SMTs) in Switzerland from an economic geography and political science perspective. The project integrates economic geography and political science perspectives of SMTs in order to contribute to the emerging scientific and political debates on the role and function of small and medium-sized towns. By outlining the development potential of SMTs in Switzerland and evaluating their locational strategies, current policies can be adapted.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 07.09.2015

Active participation

Active participation

Communication	Title	Media	Place	Year

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Small and medium-sized towns have traditionally been neglected in the urban studies and regional development literature. Yet, recent research demonstrates that for the EU15-nations, small and medium-sized towns have shown higher economic growth rates than the largest cities particularly since 2001 (Dijkstra, Garcilazo, & McCann, 2013). Population and economic growth seem to have slowed down in the largest metropolitan regions in the developed European countries. These findings contradict the dominant scholarly and practitioner discourse about metropolitan regions, which has also influenced Swiss spatial planning and policymakers (Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung, 2008). The findings suggest a need to focus on small and medium-sized towns and to raise questions about their economic dynamics and the political strategies that may have influenced their development trajectories. Focusing on issues of urban prosperity in small and medium-sized towns will give us a better understanding of those types of urban areas that connect metropolitan and rural regions. The proposed project examines the development potential of small and medium-sized towns (SMTs) in Switzerland from an economic geography and political science perspective. The aim of the project is twofold: First, we want to generate scientific knowledge about SMTs, particularly regarding their economic structures and trajectories as well as their linkages to metropolitan regions. Second, we plan to identify economic and political strategies that influence development dynamics of SMTs and their respective success in relation to the metropolitan regions. Small and medium-sized towns are spatially distinct areas of economic activity that can select different strategies to define their relation to the metropolitan region: an SMT can either choose to be a distinct economic specialization independent of a nearby metropolitan region (autarky) or an economic structure that is heavily dependent on a larger metropolitan region (alignment). Hybrid forms are also possible. The proposed research aims at studying conditions under which either of these strategies lead to success.The empirical work is divided into three steps: First, we will analyze the Swiss urban system and identify small and medium-sized cities using cluster analysis methods. Second, we will conduct up to six case studies of selected SMTs that represent the groups we created. Third, we will conduct a comparative political economy analysis and generate insights into different development trajectories. The latter is important because the literature in urban and regional development has generally ignored smaller urban places. Yet, SMTs often follow substantially different economic and political paths and strategies than metropolitan regions (Knox & Mayer, 2009). An examination of SMTs is important given the importance of polycentric development as a spatial development goal at the European and at the Swiss national level. The project will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team of economic geographers and political scientists. The anticipated benefit of the project is both scientific and practical in that the project contributes to fundamental knowledge about SMTs and it informs political actors and policymakers at all levels about development strategies and their influence on welfare and prosperity in small and medium-sized towns.