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P. Hirschler, L. Plank:
"Spatial Planning´s role in the renewal of the foundational economy";
Talk: AESOP Congress Venice, Venedig; 07-09-2019 - 07-14-2019.

Spatial planning was not considered a public task on its own until the 1930s, but rather as inter-municipal coordination to organise space for a good life by reducing spatial conflicts in different spheres (e.g. housing vs. industry, pollution vs. health). Providing basic infrastructure in growing cities and regions was the main task than. By the 1990s the primary role became that of facilitating private business as corporations were increasingly released from societal obligations and gained rights. The entrepreneurial city became the paradigmatic vision in most cities in Europe and North America to deliver growth and jobs. Critics argue that "more of the same" will not help much in addressing the most fundamental challenges of our time, particularly climate change, rising inequalities (both at the spatial and individual level) and the turn towards authoritarian rule.
One promising narrative to counter these tendencies is the one of the foundational economy. The foundational economy perspective aims for a reframing of the development and policy debate around those activities that are rooted in place, that can be sheltered from interurban competition, and that are essential for citizens to lead decent lives. Change towards a renewal of foundational economic activities will have to involve a broad and diverse coalition between state, business, and civil society where growth is of less concern than decent and ecologically sustainable lives. This implies exploring the potential for social licensing, remunipalisation, platform cooperativism, the forging of new (and rediscovery of old) planning instruments, social entrepreneurship, and the likes. In particular, spatial planning expertise will play a key role in the renewal of the infrastructure of everday life that the foundational economy represents. The paper will focus on this by reflecting upon different planning schools and highlight potential contributions from spatial planning to foundational economic thinking.