Abstract. The present paper deals with the daily migrations between the southern part of the Canton Ticino and the adjacent provinces of Como and Varese (Lombardy). This phenomenon is seen in the wider context of Swiss policy towards foreigners and of Italian inland migration. The former aspect is highlighted by the fact that in 1966 border commuters into Switzerland were freed from restrictions (as opposed to other categories of foreign workers in Switzerland), while the latter is referred to in the context of settlement development and population instability in the communes along the boundary. In the late 1960ies the Swiss side has gone through a phase of heavy investment in labour-intensive and lowsalary industries (clothing, machines, watches). As a consequence of this salaries have generally lagged behind the national mean, and technological development has been very slow. Immigration into the Italien border communes has created serious infrastructural problems. In addition the immigrants from southern Italy, attracted by the possibility to commute into Switzerland, have been viewed with suspicion and distrust by the native population. However, the Ticino population has a relatively positive image of the transborder commuters in general and it clearly recognizes the dependency of the regional economy on this kind of labour force. On the other hand, many people wish to see their number diminish. They hope that in this way no more low-income Jobs would be created (they do not, however, see such a limitation as a possibility to create Jobs for the jobless).