Switzerland experienced strong economic growth throughout the 20th century. This was accompanied by increasing urbanisation that created a variety of challenges for local and federal governments. Those challenges were met with measures such as land-use planning laws, tax incentives and substantial investments in transport infrastructure. These instruments had significant effects on the environment, regional disparities, and where private individuals and companies located themselves.
Our research unit uses quantitative methodologies and rich geospatial databases to analyse these themes from an economic perspective. The domains covered by our research unit include the evaluation of policies for regulating property markets, the analysis of the determinants of urban sprawl, the relationship between the supply of properties and housing prices or rents, and fiscal policies aiming to promote home ownership.
