Investigating Switzerland

Abstract

The book pertains the coherent integration of the four scientific articles—all published in well-known academic journals in the field. It therefore presents an outstanding empirical analysis of four case studies in Switzerland, including not only a detailed analysis of the selected case studies, but also detailed comparisons carried out according to the specific needs of the different articles. 54 interviews were carried out in total. Article 1 starts with the analysis of the Swiss federal institutional regime in force to understand how the Swiss federal government defines policies for housing (re)development in dense urban environments (sub-question 1). Article 2 discusses the concept of social sustainability in housing from different theoretical perspectives. Article 3 further investigates how densification materializes at the municipal level. It focuses on public policies and policy instruments that guide densification of housing stocks in municipalities. Finally, Article 4 then shifts the focus from the federal to the local level and examines in a single case study how private property owners respond to the Swiss policy shift towards densification.