The competition between regions and economic areas
The economic success of Switzerland is based essentially on its infrastructure, productivity and fiscal attractiveness of different regions. With their specific economic clusters - for example, consider the role of life sciences in Basel - it's regions must be seen as centers of competence and excellence. To ensure their future success against international competition, it is essential to have accurate information both nationally and internationally.
The competition between regions and economic areas
The competitiveness between different regions is a concept widely used in economic theory and policy. In the perspective of globalization, regions are increasingly competing with each other, fiscally and as establishment and production sites, or scientific research centers.
In terms of international competition, the regions of Switzerland have an undeniable role. The innovative activity of their structure gives them a great importance due to new economic approaches. At regional level we find basically cutting-edge products and processes. Not surprisingly, studies on the comparative advantages of business locations, and the regional comparison (reviews of cities and regions) are increasingly being taken seriously by economic actors and politics, in-land and abroad, in terms of productivity and development.
The 7 major regions of Switzerland
The definition of the seven major regions of Switzerland suggested by BAK Basel Economics (Lake Geneva, Espace Mittelland, Italian Switzerland, Basel, Zürich / Aargau, Central Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland) reflects both the performance criteria that the political and administrative boundaries. From the functional point of view, we can consider the basin of Lake Geneva, Zurich and Aargau, Basel, three realities with major urban and economic areas. The central plateau "Mittelland" can be defined as a range of cities (Bern, Thun, Biel, Fribourg, Neuchâtel) with their hinterlands. The eastern and central Switzerland form a geographically homogeneous group characterized each by an "important" city (St. Gallen, Lucerne). Finally the south of Switzerland covers a large part of the Alps.
The main regions as centers of economic competence
The seven major regions are clearly distinguishable from each other, not only in size but also in their economic structures. Zürich / Aargau and Lake Geneva are characterized by the importance of their financial sectors, and Basel is dominating life sciences, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc..
The central and eastern Switzerland, as well as the Mittelland can be described as industrial centers of competence of the Swiss economy.
In southern Switzerland, finally, tourism is the engine of the regional economy, along with growing technological expertise and logistics centers.
Further analysis of different economic regions of Switzerland should be performed to better understand their strengths and their weaknesses. Often the profiles do not appear as uniform sets, but can be interpreted as highly variable data both at cantonal or municipal level.
