Oecd Territorial Reviews Switzerland

Switzerland shows one of the lowest rates of interregional disparities in OECD countries. However, many cohesion-favouring policies, such as support for agriculture, public service provision, public procurement and investment, and fiscal equalisation, have come under strain in the last decade. Moreover, new territorial issues have emerged, such as growing imbalances within metropolitan areas or the modernisation of traditional industries. The review thus points to the need to redesign regional policy. The ongoing reform of fiscal federalism, supposed to foster subnational autonomy and to reduce disparities more effectively, is an important step towards balanced regional development. The review emphasises the need to extend regional policy to the entire country, and to link it more strongly to spatial planning, in order to ensure that all regions benefit from the advantages of liberalisation and globalisation. The Territorial Review of Switzerland is integrated into a wider programme of National and Regional Territorial Reviews undertaken by the OECD Territorial Development Policy Committee. The overall aim of the territorial review series is to provide practical policy advice to national and regional government.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Staff is the author of 'Oecd Territorial Reviews Switzerland' with ISBN 9789264198456 and ISBN 9264198458.