Comparison in spatial planning research as a methodological problem

:One of the shortcomings of interna­tional comparative planning research is the lack of reflection on the strategy of country com­parison. While comparative typologies can be helpful, how are they used in the research pro­cess? This article critically examines a study that compared the regional governance of land-use planning in Germany and Switzerland. The results demonstrate that certain factors, such as the availability of data, only become apparent during the research process and require a flex­ible approach to the initial strategic considera­tions. Therefore, typologies cannot be finalised at the outset of the research process; rather, they require enhancement throughout.