Some centers in the alpine periphery, such as Scuol, Disentis or Vals, are small economic systems. However they have a differentiated supply of private and public goods and services. These communities possess a balanced economic structure: Besides services, tourism industry and industries of the second economic sector, agriculture has a perspective as well because of the existence of complete regional value chains. It can be assumed that these centers have reached the critical size for stable economic system.
Insights from the NFP 48 support this assumption. Thierstein et al. (2004) did not discover a negative effect on centers from concentration processes concerning services onto more profitable locations.
A good example for measuring the local socio-economic development and a characterization of communities is given by RIEDER, BUCHLI, KOPAINSKY (2004).
An analysis of interdependences of the different industries within and between economic areas was made by several alpine regions in the context of the Moving Alps’ Projects. A modeling approach was used and adopted to such spaces. (BUSER, 2005)
BUSER, B. (2005): Regionale Wirtschaftskreisläufe und regionale Wachstumspolitik. , Institut für Agrarwirtschaft ETH, ETH Zürich, Zürich.
RIEDER, P., BUCHLI, S., KOPAINSKY, B. (2004): Erfüllung des Verfassungsauftrages durch die Landwirtschaft unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ihres Beitrages zur dezentralen Besiedlung. Hauptbericht., 139. Zürich: Institut für Agrarwirtschaft, Gruppe Markt und Politik.
Thierstein, A. et al. (2004): Liberalisierung öffentlicher Dienstleistungen: Auswirkungen auf die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Unternehmen im Schweizer Berggebiet. Institut für Raum- und Landschaftsentwicklung (IRL), ETH Zürich.
