The Nordic countries share the policy goal that residents should be able to live and work in all kinds of environments and regions. However, this must be balanced with the goal of all regions contributing to national growth and development through the best possible use of each region's potential. Achieving this balance is one of the greatest challenges of regional policy. Sparsely populated areas, urban planning, border regions and the interaction between urban and rural areas are highlighted research topics in this theme, which Nordregio will be working with in the coming years.
Sparsely populated areas
Peripheral and sparsely populated areas in the Nordic countries are facing a demographic challenge where the population is growing increasingly older as young people move away. Another consideration is their small economies and how their labour markets stand up to global competition. Accessibility and mobility are key concepts. Can the location of peripheral regions be a strength — one that can lead to a more active role for these areas, in which their resources can be employed to benefit the rest of the Nordic countries and Europe?
Urban planning and development
In contrast to the sparsely populated areas, the Nordic urban regions are growing — especially the large ones — as are their labour markets. What are the consequences of this growth in relation to the goal of sustainable regional development? Can the Nordic countries compete with countries that have much larger cities and a geographically more favourable position? Nordregio aims to further strengthen its expertise and profile on urban issues, identifying robust strategies to develop urban regions in a more sustainable manner.
Rural–urban relations
Policy-makers face a challenge in trying to balance the growth of cities with the goal of cohesive territorial development. Since the late 1990s, the EU has had a goal of bolstering rural–urban relations, but has offered no concrete suggestions as to how to achieve this.
Nordregio will therefore analyse the relationships between different territories and particularly study the role of small towns in sparsely populated areas. An interesting question in this context is the economic importance of improved rural–urban relations for rural-based companies and industries. Another dimension will be to investigate individuals' opportunities to improve their quality of life.
Cross-border collaboration
Cross-border collaboration across national borders can promote regional growth and welfare in border regions. For several years now a priority of the policy agenda in the Nordic region and in the EU has been to promote a cross-border labour market. Other community issues, such as transport, environment and power supply, also require cross-border collaboration.