Capital City Study Tour to Washington D.C., September 12 to 15, 2011

Capital cities play an important role in shaping the cultural, social and political identity of a nation. They serve as decision making centers of a nation and each is an important nucleus of a country`s civil society. Often overlooked, however, is the unique economic geography of a capital city and there is a lack of understanding about the ways in which political and economic actors shape the capital city economy. Our group is currently conducting research for two projects for which we analyze the capital city economy of Washington D.C. and Bern. In one of the projects, we analyze the economic revitalization and innovation potential of the relocation of the Department of Homeland Security into one of Washington D.C.`s most disenfranchised neighborhoods (for a short video explaining the project see this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRs3cQkE6ic). The other project examines the capital city economy of the Swiss capital region around Bern. Through this research we hope to give answers to the question how capital cities form a unique economic system which facilitates knowledge transfer between public and private actors.

Martin Luther King memorial (Foto: Heike Mayer)

This September we had the chance to take a field trip to Washington D.C., which was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland. Our goal was to learn about Washington D.C.`s efforts to position itself as a capital city. The group included representatives from the economic geography research group (Heike Mayer, Tina Haisch, Fabian Bauer and Janina Keller) and from the Swiss Capital Region (Regula Buchmüller, André Nietlisbach, Georg Tobler, http://www.hauptstadtregion.ch/). Our program included meetings with planning practitioners and economic developers from Washington D.C. and from adjacent communities such as Arlington Count and the City of Alexandria. We also met with our academic colleagues from the Urban Affairs and Planning Program at Virginia Tech`s Alexandria Center. In addition, we visited several neighborhoods and areas that are currently undergoing significant revitalization and development. The conversations, meetings and tours gave us unique insights into the ways in which Washington D.C. is developing. Washington D.C. is currently undergoing tremendous changes: Over the last couple of years, the city has seen a tremendous amount of redevelopment in many of its core neighborhoods. D.C. has evolved into a very attractive city, particularly for young and talented people. The region also benefits from the close relationships between federal government institutions and the private sector. Planners and economic developers in the Washington D.C. region are proactively leveraging these dynamics, and are trying to position the city as a sustainable and economically competitive place.

The group before the executive office of the mayor (Foto: Heike Mayer)

The field trip allowed us to experience Washington D.C. from a variety of perspectives. We engaged in exciting conversations about the limits and opportunities of development in the U.S. capital region. We learned about Alexandria`s efforts in attracting nonprofit groups and associations. We discussed Arlington County`s efforts to focus on sustainable economic development. We were intrigued by various ways in which D.C. depends on the federal government. And we enjoyed debates about gentrification, segregation and urban revitalization over a good beer or a glass of wine. By way of this report and the following two entries that Fabian and Janina wrote, we would like to thank the U.S. Embassy for the generous support of this field trip. The field trip was exciting, not just because we saw a lot but also because we met many interesting and nice people and we hope to continue this transatlantic relationship in the future.

Meeting with the National Capital Planning Commission (Foto: Janina Keller)

Heike Mayer

Slow cities in China's booming Yangtze River Delta

After last year’s successful field trip with 20 master students to the Yangtze River, the economic geography group at the University of Bern is planning another study trip to China in summer 2012. The topic will be "fast cities, slow cities and capital cities" and will give master students the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the economic transformation and integration of China into the world economy. Besides visiting major cities like Shanghai or Beijing, one of the planned study areas will the town of Yaxi (桠溪), the first certificated "Slow City" in China by the international Cittaslow movement.

This week I had the chance for a first visit of Yaxi which lies in the jurisdiction of Gaochun (高淳) county. Gaochun is located around 90 minutes away from Nanjing, the capital of the fast growing Jiangsu province. Jiangsu is not only the recipient of the highest amount of foreign direct investment in the country, but also one of the most prosperous provinces all over China. However, the region is undergoing a tremendous change as a lot of land has been transformed into factory, residential or commercial areas and many young people are leaving the countryside for a more promising future in the neighboring fast growing cities. Therefore, many rural communities and towns are under great pressure of urban sprawl, economic marginalization and various environmental challenges.

Yaxi Slow City in Gaochun, Nanjing, P.R. China (Foto: Daniel Fäh)

Miss Chen, the local representative of the Slow City, picked me up from the small Gaochun bus station and drove me to Yaxi. The 48 kilometers long scenic road has been constructed after the county was certified the first Slow City of China last year. The road links all six villages which belong to Yaxi town and hosts with a total population of 22'000 residents. The road passes through beautiful scenery with organic plantations of tea, pears, grapes and many other plants. In spring, when the rape flowers blossoms are starting to open, Yaxi attracts most visitors in the year, not only from Jiangsu, but also increasingly from many parts in China and abroad. Last year Yaxi had welcomed totally 300'000 visitors and local accommodation facilities have been built recently.

Back in Gaochun, I was guided by representatives of Yaxi and Gaochun for a pleasant walk in the old street of the town. Many stalls were selling local products, ranging from locally crafted "tiger shoes" or feather fans to freshly made sweets or homegrown fruits. Such authentic and laid-back atmosphere of the street has become rare in the booming cities of the Chinese East Coast, but still very common in many rural counties and towns. Yaxi, which is very closely linked to Gaochun, has attracted a lot of media attention when it received the first Slow City certificate last year and the government already started to promote learning from Yaxi County. However, the Slow City in Gaochun County is still "under construction" and the way it will develop is still very open. The local government recently commissioned a study to a company in Beijing for further development potential of the Slow City. The results will soon be ready and the local government and residents have to decide which development path they will go in the future.

Gaochun Old Street (Foto: Daniel Fäh)

How does the idea of slow cities, a Western concept aiming for sustainable development and improving residents' quality of life, contribute to the development of Yaxi? What does slow city mean in the context of Chinese development and modernization? And can Yaxi be a model for other small cities and local communities in China and other developing countries to promote an alternative way of development? The field trip next year will be a great opportunity to learn more about Yaxi and to understand the potential of slow cities in China. We may also have the chance to exchange ideas about endogenous and sustainable development of “slow” towns in China and Switzerland.

Impressions from China`s first slow city (Foto: Daniel Fäh)

Daniel Fäh