Governance strategies for the Zürich-Basel metropolitan region in Switzerland

This paper proposes the emergence of two metropolitan regions in Switzerland, the Arc Lémanique and the Zürich-Basel metropolitan region, whose perimeters extend far beyond existing political and administrative structures. However current spatial development policies in the light of this metropolitan notion reveal that policy-makers have neglected the impact of the increase in knowledge-intensive economies and international relations, which leads to spatial reorganization of the country. Governance responses at the scale of the metropolitan region to the needs of the expanding knowledge economy are needed. Here we propose a combination of policies, the so-called 'tripod' of spatial planning, regional policies and international location marketing. Concerted actions from the three policy fields will enhance the chance of shaping liveable urban landscapes. A necessary and important step still lies ahead: shaping awareness of the metropolitan reality in Switzerland.