Switzerland

Local governments play an important role in Switzerland. Despite their small size and their high number, municipalities are quite autonomous and fulfil key functions in the provision of tasks and services. What is especially noticeable is their fiscal and financial autonomy. Municipalities are regulated through cantonal constitutions and laws, which, from a federalist perspective, leads to remarkable diversity among the cantons. At the same time, the growing complexity of the policy landscape necessitates cooperation between municipalities and between different levels of government. Municipalities strive to avoid being reduced to simple agencies that execute tasks for the cantons and the national government without being involved on an equal basis in decision-making in questions that concern them. Formally, they all have the same status and competences, but time will tell whether this can continue or if more asymmetrical solutions will become necessary.