Accessibility Long Term Perspectives

Abstract

Improved accessibility and its correlate lower generalized cost of contact, travel and transport
have been sought by dynamic human societies for their economic and social benefits through-
out recorded history. The paper will reflect about this process at a number of different spatial
and temporal scales based on a conceptual model. Looking back at European history, it will
trace the interaction between Christaller’s logic of local market areas and the idea of (low
contact cost) network cities. Focusing on Switzerland since 1950 it will show how network
investment changed the relative distribution of population and employment and how this in-
teracted with changes in the preferences of the travelers. Using a recent snapshot of how a
substantial sample of Swiss maintain their social networks over often very large areas, it will
try to answer the question of what will happen in the future, if the current trend of ever lower
costs of contact will persist.