The mobility of urban policies: How Lisbon’s BIP/ZIP initiatives travelled to other European urban contexts

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of urban public policy mobility within European intercity transfer programmes, focusing on co-policies, those that combine co-production and co-governance in the shaping and implementation of urban transformation. While such policies are increasingly mobilised through transfer networks, the field lacks analytical tools to assess how these models are interpreted and adapted in diverse local contexts. This paper addresses that gap by investigating the first international transfer of Lisbon’s BIP/ZIP Strategy to seven cities via the Com.Unity.Lab Transfer Network. Using an adapted “follow the policy” methodology, the research employs combined methods to trace how decisions were made, how actors shaped outcomes, and how the process evolved over time. Findings show that co-policy mobility especially not merely technical or administrative; it is deeply political, involving distributed decision-making, interpretive flexibility, and uneven capacities for adaptation. The study underscores the value of procedural approaches in understanding evolving power dynamics and calls for assessment frameworks that are process-oriented, context-sensitive, and power-aware. It contributes to emerging methodologies in urban policy studies by framing co-policy mobility as a negotiated and contested process with potential lasting implications for governance cultures and spatial justice.