A Comparative Nordic Perspective. Across all Nordic countries there is now an intensive debate on changing responsibilities and the division of labour between the state and the regions. The underlying problems in each country are very much the same, but the solutions suggested, implemented and experienced are sometimes different, perhaps not so much in concept as in details. The report contains the results of a project that has been pursued within the context of illuminating comparisons between the five Nordic countries in terms of: • What approaches characterize the current restructuring of state activities and what is their impact on various types of regions? • What conclusions can be drawn concerning a set of alternative future trajectories for the institutional framework of state intervention at the regional level?