OECD Territorial Reviews
Subtitle: Switzerland 2011
By: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Series: OECD Territorial Reviews; OECD territorial reviews
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Number of pages: 160
ISBN-13: 9789264092723
Subjects: Governance; Rural and Regional Development Urban
Description: Regions in Switzerland are performing well in many respects. They have high levels of GDP per capita and low unemployment rates, and some regions show impressive growth rates. In addition, Swiss regions have not been confronted with the challenges faced by many similar regions in the OECD, such as limited access to services and population decline due to ageing or emigration. Regional labour productivity growth still requires further policy attention. In order to improve regional economic performance, Switzerland introduced the New Regional Policy (NRP) in 2008, following the 2002 OECD Territorial Review of Switzerland. The NRP reflects a clear shift of focus from infrastructure and financial assistance towards economic support for the creation of value added to the regional economy. The current review provides recommendations on how the impact of the NRP can be increased through extended territorial coverage, inter-cantonal co-operation, and co-ordination of sectoral policies. This review also takes a close look at regional innovation policies, arguing that a division of roles should be achieved, with the federal level funding research and technology transfer on a country-wide basis, and cantons providing innovation support according to functional areas.
Table of contents: title: Foreword; title: Acronyms and Abbreviations; title: Assessment and Recommendations; title: The State of Regions in Switzerland; title: A New Regional Policy in Switzerland; title: Regional Innovation Policies in Switzerland; title: Annex A; title: Annex B.