Croissance de l'emploi régional en Suisse (1985-2001)

In this paper, we use a structural-geographical analysis to study the evolution of employment in 5 Swiss metropolitan areas between 1985 and 2001 (Zurich, Geneva-Lausanne, Basel, Bern, ?Ticino urbano?). We show that, contrarily to what occurred in other metropolitan areas, employment increase was less than estimated by our model in almost all the branches of the Geneva-Lausanne area even if it represents the second metropolitan area with regard to the number of working places. The relative weakness of the agglomeration effects on the employment in the Geneva-Lausanne area is to some extent related to its productive structure. The average size of companies, their specialization, their diversity or the density of employment are generally lower for the sectors where they should be important, and reciprocally. Beyond the quantitative analyses, the economic history of this area is necessary to understand its current characteristics.