Publications

Political discontent has been rising in many Western democracies, often linked to economic insecurities, spatial inequalities, and demographic shifts. While the Nordic countries generally maintain high levels of trust in institutions, growing rural-urban divides may contribute to dissatisfaction, particularly in areas facing economic stagnation or demographic imbalances. This project synthesis examines spatial disparities across the Nordic Region and their association with electoral behaviour, particularly voter turnout and support for populist parties. The findings indicate that while political discontent has not uniformly increased across the Nordic Region, rural areas consistently show lower voter turnout, while intermediate areas have higher support for populist parties. Socio-economic factors such as unemployment, lower education levels, and income stagnation correlate with higher populist voting, while areas with traditional, polluting industries show lower levels of discontent – suggesting the economic stability of these industries plays a role in maintaining trust. Based on these insights, the synthesis outlines key policy recommendations for addressing regional inequalities and fostering inclusive development: This publication is part of the “Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG)” project. The project analyses how the Nordic countries can accelerate the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy. The policy brief is part of a working package that looks into the distributive effects of climate policies and analyses how gaps between richer and poorer population groups and regions have developed since the last economic crisis. See also a complementary visual guide with insights into Nordic spatial variations in demographic, social, and economic characteristics.

In recent years, feelings of being left behind have grown in some regions across Europe and the Western world, linked to economic, social, and demographic disparities. This visual guide provides an overview of spatial variations across the Nordic Region, illustrating key demographic, socio-economic, and environmental indicators through maps and charts. By comparing municipalities and regions, the visual guide highlights rural-urban differences and identifies statistically significant patterns at the Nordic level. It categorises municipalities based on Nordregio’s rural-urban typology, offering insights into how urban, intermediate, and rural areas differ in terms of population composition, income levels, green jobs, and greenhouse gas emissions. This visual guide complements the Nordregio policy brief Navigating Nordic Discontent, which explores the regional divides shaping political and economic trends in the Nordics. They are part of the project “Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG)”. The project analyses how the Nordic countries can accelerate the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy. The publications are part of a working package that looks into the distributive effects of climate policies and analyses how gaps between richer and poorer population groups and regions have developed since the last economic crisis.

This report aims to illustrate how ‘Industrial Symbiosis’ (IS) can be a useful concept and model to accelerate the transition towards the green and circular economy. As a point of departure, this report poses the question: ‘Why industrial symbiosis’? To answer it, the concept is unwrapped in connection to related concepts such as circular economy, green economy and valorisation. Furthermore, the report presents a snapshot of the development of industrial symbiosis in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), followed by more in-depth case studies in selected regions. The report, then, provides conclusions reflecting on the key factors that play a role in forging symbiotic connections between relevant stakeholders, and ends with a list of recommendations. Commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, this report contributes to the implementation of the EUSBSR PA Bioeconomy.

Gotland’s innovative biogas project turns organic waste into fuel for cars and buses, combating climate change and fostering a cleaner, sustainable society. With farmers, industries, households, and even the municipality contributing to biogas production, the initiative builds a collaborative spirit on the island. The sustainable initiative brings multiple benefits to the local community. While EU regulations restrict food crops for biofuel production, and a market skewed towards electric vehicles, local entrepreneurs address this by promoting biogas car sales and conversion of regular cars to biogas systems, demonstrating how local initiatives can address global sustainability challenges. Next up: biogas-fuelled ferries? Local ownership and collaboration are vital in renewable energy projects. Read more about how Biogas Gotland realised its plans and the lessons learned from successful local ownership of sustainable energy.

This policy brief aims to shed some light on the mission’s approach, specifically within innovation policy, and how it is interpreted and implemented at different territorial levels. Mission-oriented innovation policies (MOIP) have gained traction in academia and policy in recent years as a possible means to set the directionality of collective efforts and accelerate transformative change around some of today’s grand societal challenges. This policy brief presents the academic debate around the territorial dimensions of MOIPs, followed by a brief discussion of how MOIPs have been adopted so far at the supra-national, national and sub-national levels. More specifically, a snapshot of the innovation policy landscape and the degree of penetration of mission and transformative approaches in Denmark, Finland and Sweden is presented. Furthermore, the interpretation and adoption of missions at the regional level are discussed based on the results of three Nordic case studies, including Northern Jutland (DK), Ostrobothnia (FI) and Västerbotten (SE). The final section discusses the implications of adopting MOIPs and provides a list of recommendations for Nordic regions.

On the popular holiday island of Gotland, off Sweden’s southeast coast, community-driven initiative Austerland Energi is building a solar energy park, enabling local energy generation, storage, sharing, and use. The sparsely populated Östergarnslandet has 3,700 households, but only one-third are occupied by permanent residents, and the rest belong to second home owners. Austerland Energi is a community-driven energy project that just established its solar energy park as a local manifestation of the Paris Agreement. The initiative builds on previous successful local projects, such as a water and sewage system, a fibre network, and a community centre conversion. Learn how engaged residents are shaping their community’s future through this local energy transition, beginning with their community-owned solar park.

This final report captures four years of accumulated work by the Nordic Thematic Group for Green, Innovative, and Resilient Regions (2021–2024). Research topics include green innovation systems, remote work post-pandemic, competence mobility, socially sustainable tourism, and collaborative leadership. A wide range of outputs, from policy briefs to case studies and webinars, have been delivered during the course of the programme period. The collaborative approach has enhanced knowledge-sharing and policy-making, supporting the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated in the world by 2030. BackgroundThe thematic group operates under the Nordic Co-operation Programme for Regional Development and Planning (2021–2024), with the following objectives: Participants included Nordregio researchers and national, regional, and cross-border representatives, who developed insights aligned with Nordic regional goals on competitiveness, labour markets, and freedom of movement. Research conclusions: ImpactThe group facilitated over 100 knowledge-sharing activities, including at the Nordregio Forum, webinars, and a roadshow of local and national level presentations. Outputs such as reports and case studies enhanced policy discussions, supported regional strategies, and advanced Nordic added value through shared learning and best practices. The work not only advances the Nordic vision but also strengthens networks and capacity for regional development, showcasing the strategic importance of collaboration across sectors and countries.

Nordic rural areas are facing complex, interconnected challenges, from labour shortages and shrinking populations to green, digital, and remote work transitions. At the same time, these challenges offer an opportunity to recognise the diversity of Nordic rural areas and at even leverage and build on local specificities to pave the way towards the future. The Roadmap for Nordic Rural Development builds on and summarises the work of the Nordic Thematic Group on Green and Inclusive Rural Development (2021–2024). Drawing from discussions, workshops, and project results, the roadmap highlights the Nordic added value of recent initiatives, outlines overarching themes for rural development, and proposes future thematic areas and projects for exploration. Explore the interactive storymap to discover innovative policy solutions for mobile living and working, place-based approaches, strengthened administrative capacity, and genuine stakeholder involvement—all designed to foster sustainable and inclusive rural development. The roadmap outlines strategies and solutions for the future, as well as the key findings and recommendations from projects focused on rural development and points towards remaining challenges and questions to be addressed going forward. The roadmap is also available in:

Could electric aviation contribute to mitigating the climate impact of aviation? If so, what open questions and challenges need to be addressed before electric aviation can become a reality in the Nordic Region? This policy brief outlines the main obstacles to implementing electric aviation in the Nordic region and introduces actionable solutions and a roadmap with steps towards making electric aviation reality in the coming years. The policy brief is also available in Finnish, Icelandic and Swedish, browse the digital edition or download a pdf version with the links below: In this policy brief, you will find: This policy brief has been produced as a part of the Electric aviation and the effects on the Nordic regions project that looks into the effects of electric aviation on Nordic regional development. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The partners include Nordregio, Nordic Energy Research and the University of Akureyri.

This report provides insights into the regional economic effects of the green transition across the Nordic countries. Through a series of country- and sector-specific chapters by Nordic experts, the report explores the regional challenges and opportunities associated with advancing the green transition within key sectors and achieving ambitious climate goals in the Nordic Region. Key issues covered include analyses of the economic shifts in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, oil and gas, and green industries, examining how these changes affect labor markets, regional economies, and national strategies. Questions addressed include: This report is a source of inspiration for policymakers, regional planners, researchers, industry leaders, and anyone interested in understanding the socio-economic dimensions of the green transition in the Nordic Region. It offers practice-based perspectives into addressing the challenges of decarbonisation while fostering regional development and inclusivity.

What are the regional environmental impacts of the next generation electric aircraft in the Nordic Region? Transport – and more specifically, aviation – is a key to fostering connectivity and accessibility, as well as promoting integration across the Nordic Region. But with what kind of environmental impact? Could electric aviation be a solution towards more sustainable transport? This storymap takes stock of the environmental impacts of aviation and explores how electric aviation could contribute to making flying more sustainable. Electric aviation is an emerging sector in the Nordic countries, showing great potential as a key element in connecting the region’s diverse and remote areas. The development of electric planes marks a significant step toward more sustainable aviation. Besides connectivity, electric aviation can offer social benefits, such as improved access to healthcare and education, while increasing the region’s appeal to young people and potential migrants. It can also spark opportunities for technological innovation and high-tech advanced in local industries. However, challenges still remain, as both the production and charging phases still carry an environmental impact. As technology advances, more analysis is needed to better grasp the long-term implications of electric aviation. This storymap has been produced as a part of the Electric aviation and the effects on the Nordic regions project that looks into the effects of electric aviation on Nordic regional development. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The partners include Nordregio, Nordic Energy Research and the University of Akureyri.

The green transition involves different economic, social and territorial impacts that have been explored in the four year research project “Not Just a Green Transition – Examining the path towards a socially just green transition in the Nordic Region” (short name: NJUST). The result is the Nordic Toolbox for a Just Green Transition, which contributes to a transition towards a climate neutral Nordic Region that is socially just.   The comprehensive and interactive toolbox offers guidance for Nordic policymakers to navigate challenges, listen to those affected, and get inspired. The toolbox highlights six priority areas for enabling a just green transition, and offers policy memos from four socially at-risk groups: older adults, youth, people with disabilities and those at risk of unemployment. Through practical tools and examples, a structured checklist, policymakers can gain insights into how to take action for a transition that is not only green – but equitable too.  We want your feedback! Answer this short survey with your thoughts and feedback on the Toolbox.

This working paper analyses the territorial differences in household wealth across the Nordic Region. It examines the distribution and development of income inequality across the Nordics between 2005 and 2022, focusing especially on disparities at the municipal level and offers insights into the complex dynamics of income inequality in the Nordic Region. This working paper presents empirical evidence on the development of income inequalities in the Nordic countries and self-governing territories during the first decades of the 21st century (2005-2022). The analysis focuses on the social and territorial expressions of socio-economic inequalities, considering income differentials within and between territorial units. The exploration builds on data collected at themunicipal level in Åland, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Norway and Sweden, at the regional level in the Faroe Islands and for Statistical Output Areas in Iceland. The analysis pays particular attention to the development of household income in rural and urban areas since the pre-2007 financial crisis. The discussion also sheds light on the relationship between average income levels and living standards in the various municipalities, as well as their respective levels of income inequality, exploring whether those two dimensions reinforce each other, meaning that greater levels of affluence lead to greater levels of inequality. The contribution of income inequalities within and between municipalities to inequality at societal level is also addressed. The paper is a part of the project “Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG)”. The project analyses how the Nordic countries can accelerate the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy. The paper is part of a working package that looks into the distributive effects of climate policies and analyses how gaps between richer and poorer population groups and regions have developed since the last economic crisis.

The Nordic countries are considered to be global front-runners in creating sustainable societies. Although we get a lot of things right, big tasks lie ahead if we are to reach our vision to be the most integrated and sustainable region in the world by 2030. The Sustainable Living programme, running from 2021 through 2024, is a response to this challenge and a call to action. It has explored what a sustainable Nordic lifestyle entails and formulated concrete guidelines and tools for policy and business development. It has demonstrated public impact through the spread of information and inspiration, the development of new business areas that can be ecolabelled and the demonstration of necessary behavioural and cultural changes. In this Sustainable Living Hub, you can access all our projects’ resources in one place. From survey results and research reviews to practical guidelines, teaching materials, webinars, and policy recommendations.

This report analyses experiences of young people in Nordic nonprofit organisations from a gender and climate perspective. It identifies clear patterns and obstacles and considers key approaches to enabling more inclusive youth movements.  Studies have shown that young people tend to worry about climate change to a greater degree than adults and are often more committed to sustainable development. Young people are vital agents for a just green transition, but participation varies across social identities and backgrounds. However, there seem to be differences in involvement between girls and boys that roughly reflect the patterns between women and men. Men and boys tend to be less interested in both sustainability and gender equality. How can nonprofit organisations strengthen the conscious and committed, while also bringing underrepresented voices to the table?

Mission-oriented innovation policies have gained traction as effective frameworks for tackling significant societal issues through targeted innovation efforts. This report provides an in-depth analysis of mission-oriented innovation policies (MOIPs) in the Nordic countries, focusing specifically on Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. This study, commissioned by the Nordic Thematic Group for Green, Innovative, and Resilient Regions (2021–2024), explores how these countries have integrated MOIPs into their national innovation systems to address major societal challenges, particularly those incurred by climate change. Key Findings Comparative Analysis The report highlights the unique characteristics and implementation strategies of MOIPs in each country, offering a comparative analysis to identify common themes and key differences. It underscores the importance of long-term perspectives, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and the alignment of national policies with broader EU frameworks like Horizon Europe and the European Green Deal. In this report, our research focuses on the following key questions: By addressing these questions, this report provides valuable insights and practical recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and innovation professionals dedicated to understanding and maneuvering the societal levers that drive innovation forward. Collaborative approach This report edited and co-authored by Nordregio researchers Alberto Giacometti and Sigrid Jessen, is a collaboration with Markus Grillitsch Director of CIRCLE at Lund University, Markku Sotarauta from Tampere University, and Teis Hansen from the University of Copenhagen.

Cross-border municipalities in Sweden and its Nordic neighbours are already well integrated. They have strong links and cooperate closely, in particular through cross-border committees involving local and regional authorities or through direct cooperation at the municipal level. However, issues hindering greater integration of cross-border municipalities and regions remain. This study focuses on three cases in the Swedish-Finnish, Swedish-Norwegian and Swedish-Danish border regions that face different topographical challenges. Through interviews with local and regional stakeholders, the main challenges with regard to furthering cross-border integration were identified.  In addition, four research axes for sharing-potential were identified on the basis of the interviews and later discussed during a workshop held with stakeholders from municipalities, regions and national authorities from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. In this report, our research focuses on the following key questions:

State of the Nordic Region 2024 takes stock of the latest trends and developments in demography, labour market and economy in the Nordic countries, regions, municipalities, and cities. This year’s report marks the 20th edition of the State of the Nordic Region, a bi-annually published report that provides a Nordic panorama of regional development trends in the Nordic countries based on the latest statistical data, maps and analyses. Watch the video from the online launch event (19 June) to get an overview of the report highlights. The State of the Nordic Region 2024 presents a collection of maps, figures and analysis within three core areas: demography, labour market, and economy, as well as a newly updated Regional Potential Index. DEMOGRAPHY What are the latest demographic trends in the Nordic Region? What kind of impact did the pandemic have on different aspects of demographic development? The demography section compiles insights from population statistics on mortality and birth, population change and migration in the Nordic Region based on the most recent available data.   Ch 1: Population change beyond the pandemic Ch 2: Fertility decline in the Nordic Region Ch 3: The Nordic geography of diversity LABOUR MARKET What kind of labour market trends are the most prevalent in the Nordic Region at the moment? How has the labour market recovered since the pandemic? Do we have the necessary skills and compe­tences to remain competitive in the future? And how is the green transition shaping the labour market? The labour market section tackles the latest developments of the labour market from different perspectives. Ch 4: The Nordic labour market after the pandemic Ch 5: Challenges of labour shortages and skills provision Ch 6: Green transition of the labour market ECONOMY Achieving sustainable, long-term regional development requires that economic, environmental, and social aspects are…

This working paper explores the factors driving political discontent and changes in the electoral behaviour across the Nordic Region. It serves as a conceptual overview of the topic by taking stock of the combination of factors that are driving discontent and geographies of discontent in the Western liberal democracies and in the Nordic Region specifically. The 2010s have seen a rise of the age of discontent, including political and anti-government protests, as well as changes in the electoral behaviour. While voter turnout has continued to decline throughout the recent years in the West, there has also been a rise in votes cast for non-traditional and in some cases new parties. This has often been referred to as the most distinct expression of political discontent. The root causes and drivers of the anti-government sentiment are complex. The driving forces include the economic and structural changes that have increased the vulnerability of individuals and territories. The resulting inequalities and socio-cultural divides between people and places give rise to discontent and dissatisfaction, particularly within places that feel left behind. While the key factors driving geographies of discontent elsewhere in the West can also be found in the Nordic Region, further analysis is required to ascertain whether discontent in the region is primarily driven by territorial or interpersonal inequality. The paper is a part of the project “Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG)”. The project analyses how the Nordic countries can accelerate the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy. The paper is part of a working package that looks into the distributive effects of climate policies and analyses how gaps between richer and poorer population groups and regions have developed since the last economic crisis.

Citizens are trying to establish a locally owned windmill, as an act to unite the island and for a sustainable future. Explore the steps they took, the hurdles they faced, and the lessons learned in this storymap.   Bornholm, a rural island in south-east Denmark near southern Sweden, has a stable population of around 39,600 people. We interviewed 8 of them to learn more about how they are striving to unite the island around an offshore, near-coast windmill park outside of Bornholm (100 MW).