Economically, sustainable development presumes that the authorities are anxious to promote social equality, on one hand, and economic viability, on the other. For this reason, economic policies were the subject of discussion within international organizations from the beginning of Agenda 21 and particularly in the founding document, Action 21, developed at the time of the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Emphasis is given to the importance of efficient management of public resources, particularly in the reduction of budget deficits to therefore guarantee financing for sustainable development (see Articles 2.31, 2.31, and 2.35). Lausanne: a central cityAlthough, historically, Lausanne carried a debt for the greater part of the 20th century, it appears that the current deficit situation is primarily rooted in two phenomena. First, tax policy decisions made in the 1980s at the communal and cantonal level led to a chronic lack of revenue. Second, the City’s expenses increased significantly, primarily from regional traffic, social services, and cultural promotions. These significant expenses are explained by the fact that Lausanne, like any central city in a built-up area, provides specific services (in terms of culture or because of the greater number of social problems, for example) that benefit people throughout the region and even the canton. In the medium term, it is necessary to better allocate tasks between the city and canton, as well as between the city and the area. This third section of Agenda 21 aims to identify the tasks of central cities and suggest various measures to reorganize finance. |
