This study investigates the role of remote work in enhancing the resilience of rural and remote municipalities in the Nordic countries, highlighting the shift towards hybrid work models. The report presents six case studies, each detailing the context, challenges and opportunities associated with remote work. The study found that many public authorities lack formal remote work policies, relying on pre-existing or pandemic-developed frameworks aimed at work-life balance.
The research points to remote work's potential for attracting and retaining residents and skilled workers, crucial for rural development, despite challenges like the need for improved digital infrastructure and the absence of formal policies. Initiatives like co-working spaces and the focus on enhancing regional attractiveness through quality of life and infrastructure investments are seen as key to leveraging remote work for sustainable regional development. However, the study also notes obstacles such as legislative issues and the need for comprehensive strategies to fully realise the benefits of remote work for rural revitalisation.
Remote work offers a pathway to sustainable development in Nordic regions by introducing new skills, enhancing business innovation, and improving public services, which helps combat out-migration and boosts quality of life. For maximum impact, investments in digital infrastructure, supportive work environments, and regional attractiveness are crucial, paving the way for a more vibrant and sustainable future.
Has remote work post-pandemic expanded the influence of Nordic capitals on surrounding towns? Through case studies in five Nordic towns, the report focused on how remote work opportunities influence small-town attractiveness, population retention, and planning strategies. It explores the effects on populations, urban-rural landscapes, and planning needs.
The findings reveal a shift in population dynamics, with people moving from capitals to smaller towns, leveraging remote work's flexibility. This shift presents opportunities and challenges for regional development, highlighting the need for further research to navigate the complexities of remote work's long-term implications. Despite remote work becoming common, the study found little proof that remote work opportunities have made these towns more attractive.
Remote or hybrid work can attract new populations and highly qualified personnel, enhancing towns' attractiveness without necessarily increasing the population. Ongoing research is needed to fully understand remote work's potential and inform policy and planning to attract new residents and visitors.
Municipal reforms are gaining political momentum in the Nordic countries, which all face great social changes. Some countries have already pushed their reforms through; others are still struggling with decisions on the matter. Finland has failed after several years of trying to implement a renewed reform process. Norway is in the midst of such a process, and Greenland is reconsidering the reform it undertook in 2009. In this issue of Nordregio News, we review current initiatives on municipal reforms in the Nordic countries. What exactly is happening now, and why?
The Nordic countries have continuously ranked at the top of international assessments with regards to SDG implementation. This does not mean, however, that sustainable development in the Nordic Region has been fully achieved. Each country continues to face numerous challenges, including unsustainable consumption and production patterns, the effects of a changing climate, as well as rebalancing our societies after multiple crises marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing recovery, energy supply shortages in Europe and the war in Ukraine. According to the European Sustainable Development Report for 2022, the world is currently not on track to achieving most of the SDGs, underscoring the importance of the Nordic Region’s ability and need to reverse this trend and enhance progress on multiple fronts.
The purpose of this edition is to update and compile an overview of the 2030 Agenda efforts in the Nordic Region with relevant and accessible information. It describes central policy decisions, actors and national structures in ongoing SDG work, and highlights inspiring examples of national networks and societal participation.
The processes and structures for SDG implementation show that the Nordic countries each have their respective strengths and challenges. The ways in which national priorities and strategic plans have been put in place and how progress is monitored vary, as does the interaction between government, parliament, and societal actors. What is increasingly noticeable is the effort to improve stakeholder engagement, and there is an increasing data collection consistency on part of the national statistics agencies that have been given responsibility for following up on national SDG indicators. This work is also reflected in the voluntary national reviews, which make the reporting even more comprehensive in scope.
Samarbetsministrarna beslutade den 27 oktober 2005 att det skall företas en förutsättningslös kartläggning av de självstyrande områdenas ställning och arbetsmöjligheter i det nordiska samarbetet. Enligt mandatet (bilaga 1) skall kartläggningen avse de juridiska och praktiska spörsmål som de självstyrande områdenas deltagande i det nor-diska samarbetet reser. Detta inbegriper att undersöka hur de självstyran-de områdenas deltagande i det nordiska samarbetet under Helsingforsav-talet fungerar i praktiken, huruvida möjligheterna att delta fullt ut utnytt-jas och vilka barriärer som kan finnas. Kartläggningen skulle utföras av generalsekreteraren med stöd av sak-kunniga. I kartläggningen har medverkat professor Ulf Bernitz, Stockholms universitet; professor Ove Bring, Försvarshögskolan i Stockholm; tidiga-re generalsekreteraren i Nordiska ministerrådet Fridtjov Clemet; docent Frederik Harhoff, Københavns Universitet samt professor Markku Suksi, Åbo akademi. Ulf Bernitz, Fridtjov Clemet, Frederik Harhoff och Mark ku Suksi har medverkat med skriftliga bidrag (bilaga 2 – 5). Ove Bring har medverkat med övergripande synpunkter. Kartläggningen är baserad på dessa bidrag. Johan Alling, Nordiska ministerrådets sekretariat, har koordinerat arbetet. Slutsatserna i den kartläggning som nu redovisas delas av ovan nämn-da sakkunniga.
Köpenhamn den 31 maj 2006
Med reformpakken har samarbejdsministrene lagt www.norden.org grundlaget for en omfattende fornyelse af det nordiske samarbejde. Nordisk Ministerråd er nu godt i gang med at implementere de 19 delprojekter. En ny version af Nyt Norden rapporten blev publiceret i september 2014. Den indeholder ud over generalsekretærens anbefalinger den samlede reformpakke.
Með umbótaáætluninni leggja samstarfsráðherrarnir grunn undir víðtæka endurnýjun á norrænu samstarfi. Norræna ráðherranefndin hefur þegar ýtt 19 undirverkefnum úr vör. Ný útgáfa skýrslunnar Nyt Norden kom út í september 2014. Hún hefur að geyma umbótaáætlunina í heild sinni sem og tillögur framkvæmdastjórans.
Yhteistyöministerien uudistuspaketti luo perustan laajoille uudistuksille. Pohjoismaiden ministerineuvosto on parhaillaan toteuttamassa paketin 19:ää osahanketta. Nyt Norden -raportista julkaistiin syyskuussa 2014 uusi versio, joka sisältää pääsihteerin suositusten lisäksi koko uudistuspaketin.