7th Swiss Workshop on Local Public Finance and Regional Economics

The Institute of Political Economy (IdEP) at USI, with the support of the Institute for Economic Research (IRE), is organizing the seventh edition of the Swiss Workshop on Local Public Finance and Regional Economics, which will take place on Friday, 3 October 2025 at the Red Room of the Executive Center at USI.

The event aims to foster scientific dialogue and the exchange of ideas, contributing to a deeper understanding of the interactions between public policies and the geography of economic activities.

Ahead of the event, the Director of IRE, Prof. Mario Jametti, shared some reflections on the central themes of the workshop and the future perspectives for research in this field.

What is the purpose of the event?

The workshop brings together scholars in the fields of local public finance and regional economics to discuss cutting-edge research in an open and constructive setting. Its aim is to foster dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and the development of future scientific collaborations.

What are the origins of the event?

The workshop originated from a major research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) on fiscal federalism, carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Lausanne (UNIL) and Basel (UNIBAS). Among its achievements, the project helped create an informal network of Swiss researchers active in the field of fiscal federalism and local public finance. Once the project was completed, it became clear that Switzerland lacked regular research events dedicated specifically to these topics. This led to the idea of establishing the workshop, which over the years has become a recurring platform for scientific exchange.

Is the event organized in collaboration?

Yes. The event is jointly organized with the Center for Regional Economic Development (CRED) at the University of Bern, under the direction of Prof. Maximilian von Ehrlich. Hosting alternates each year: for example, last year’s edition took place in Bern, while this year the workshop is being held in Lugano in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Research (IRE) at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

Is it reserved for Swiss researchers?

No, participation is not limited to Swiss scholars. While the initial focus was on creating a national network, the workshop has gradually opened up to researchers from across Europe, and in some past editions scholars from the United States have also participated. We are pleased to see that Lugano continues to be an attractive venue for academic meetings: participants value not only the organization of the workshop but also the environment in which it takes place.

What are the particular features of the event?

As organizers, we place special emphasis on supporting young researchers. Our goal is to create an environment that is both rigorous and welcoming, where junior scholars can present their work, receive constructive feedback, and engage with more experienced academics. In some past editions, poster sessions were organized precisely to broaden opportunities for interaction and ensure a good balance between junior and senior researchers.

What is the main strength of the workshop?

The main strength lies in the combination of academic excellence with an informal and collegial atmosphere. By keeping the workshop relatively small in scale, we ensure that all participants can actively engage in discussions, build connections, and benefit from genuine exchanges. This balance between scientific rigor and openness has become the hallmark of the event, and it is what makes it attractive within the international scientific community.