Dr. Rahel Meili

PostDoc

Economic Geography

Phone
+41 31 684 52 30
E-Mail
rahel.meili@giub.unibe.ch
Postal Address
University of Bern
Institute of Geography
Economic Geography
Hallerstrasse 12
CH-3012 Bern
Switzerland

Research

Title of the dissertation

The charms of smallness: Economic dynamics and innovation mechanisms in small and medium-sized towns

Research interests

  • The economy of small and medium-sized towns
  • Geographies of Innovation
  • Entrepreneurship in peripheral mountain regions (New Highlander entrepreneurs)
  • Urban-rural linkages
  • Innovation and creativity in mountain and rural areas
  • Spatial economic effects of digitisation

Curriculum vitae

Work Experience
Since 10/18 PostDoc, Economic Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
09/15 - 09/18 PhD candidate and assistant, Economic Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
09/14 - 12/14 Research Assistant, Group of Economic Geography, University of Bern
12/13 - 12/14 Research Associate, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO), Regional Policy, Bern 
09/12 - 09/13 Internship at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO), Regional Policy, Bern
07/11 - 08/11 Internship at Remund+Kuster AG, Office for Urban and Regional Planning, Pfäffikon

Education
2018 PhD of Science in Geography, Economic Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
2018 CAS Teaching in Higher Education, University of Bern
2015 Master of Science in Geography, University of Bern 
01/15 - 05/15 Exchange Semester, Virginia Polytech Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA 
2013 Bachelor of Science in Geography, University of Bern  

Teaching

Teaching
Introductory Lecture on Economic Geography: Inverted Classroom (BA)
Lecture on Economic Geography I (BA)
Applied Economic Geography Exercises (BA)
Studio Economic Geography: Innovation and creativity in mountain regions (MA)
Seminar on Economic Geography: Urban prosperity beyond metropolis (MA)
Supervision of BA- and MA-Theses

Publications

Jump to: Journal Article | Report
Number of items: 10.

Journal Article

Meili, Rahel; Shearmur, Richard (2019). Diverse diversities-Open innovation in small towns and rural areas. Growth and change, 50(2), pp. 492-514. Wiley 10.1111/grow.12291

Meili, Rahel (2019). The influence of small town context on access to external knowledge. Entrepreneurship and regional development, 31(9-10), pp. 826-841. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/08985626.2019.1606288

Meili, Rahel; Mayer, Heike (2019). Forschungswerkstatt: Innovation und Kreativität in Berggebieten und ländlichen Räumen. Montagna - die Zeitschrift für das Berggebiet, 30(7), p. 24. Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Berggebiete SAB

Kaufmann, David; Meili, Rahel (2018). Leaves in the wind? Local policies of small and medium-sized towns in metropolitan regions. European planning studies, 27(1), pp. 21-41. Taylor & Francis Group 10.1080/09654313.2018.1535576

Mayer, Heike; Meili, Rahel (2018). Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung von Kleinstädten. Informationen zur Raumentwicklung, 6(8), pp. 28-37. Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landeskunde und Raumordnung

Meili, Rahel; Mayer, Heike (2017). Small and medium-sized towns in Switzerland: economic heterogeneity, socioeconomic performance and linkages. Erdkunde, 71(4), pp. 313-332. Geographisches Institut, Universität Bonn 10.3112/erdkunde.2017.04.04

Mayer, Heike; Habersetzer, Antoine Jean; Meili, Rahel (2016). Rural–Urban Linkages and Sustainable Regional Development: The Role of Entrepreneurs in Linking Peripheries and Centers. Sustainability, 8(8), p. 745. MDPI 10.3390/su8080745

Mayer, Heike; Meili, Rahel (2016). New Highlander Entrepreneurs in the Swiss Alps. Mountain Research and Development, 36(3), pp. 267-275. International Mountain Society 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00040.1

Meili, Rahel; Mayer, Heike (2015). Zuwanderung und Unternehmensgründungen in peripheren Berggebieten in der Schweiz. Geographische Rundschau, 67(9), pp. 42-48. Westermann

Report

Mayer, Heike; Meili, Rahel; Morisson, Arnault (2021). Theorien und Ansätze der Regionalentwicklung: Eine Anwendung auf die Neue Regionalpolitik (NRP) der Schweiz (CRED-Bericht 22). Universität Bern

This list was generated on Sat May 10 08:45:55 2025 CEST.

Reports and Articles

Reports and Articles

Mayer, Heike; Meili Rahel (2019). Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung von Kleinstädten. Informationen zur Raumentwicklung. Heft 6/2018. BBSR.

Mayer, Heike; Meili Rahel (2018). Erfolgreiche Kleinstädte. Der Bund. Montag, 26. November 2018, 10.

Mayer, Heike; Rime, Delphine; Meili, Rahel; Bürgin, Reto (2018). Experten-Input für das Postulat Brand: Vorschläge für einen territorial differenzierten Ansatz der NRP zur gezielteren Förderung der Schweizer Berggebiete. Im Auftrag des SECOs, Ressort Regional- und Raumordnungspolitik.