Nordregio is an international research institute established by the Nordic Council of Ministers

Consultant

Karen Refsgaard

Home Staff Karen Refsgaard

Specialised in institutional economics with expertise in rural development and policy, environmental and resource management mainly related to agriculture, bioeconomy and innovation.

Spatial Story

Moving across the Nordics with a Rural View!

I was brought up on the fertile Salling lands surrounded by the Limfjord where brick stones have been produced in centuries due to the moler – and with, folk highschools and rural values as a solid fundament.

Studies in agricultural economics at the former Royal Vet. and Agricultural University was not at first a big eye opener – not before I had travelled around in Iceland’s fascinating geology, innovative people and proud historical knowledge while teaching all kinds of economics as a lecturer at the Agricultural College at Hvanneyri. This land with its people is so open-minded and hands-on in a nice blend with a particular and raw nature.

Norway made me become aware of rurality, and the great aspect of comparisons. Here I spent the next half of my life getting a family and becoming familiar with institutional economics through my PhD at the University of Life Sciences, Norwegian outdoor culture and community life. Norway is a prime example on Polanyi’s point “that only the State can – and has the moral duty to – protect the natural and human resources from over-exploitation and ultimately their degradation and despoliation.” A widespread ownership of basic bio-resources for development in rural areas like fish, forest and agriculture together with access to outdoor life like “the allmans right” the last being embedded in Norwegian cultural life in family, kindergarten, schools and among people in general. But also the hunting culture is widespread in society.

The circle travelling the Nordic countries has then here in 2016 nearly been closed when starting as Research / Vice Director at Nordregio. With its interesting research topics, the very good atmosphere at Skeppsholmen and a “nice” lot of bright dedicated researchers from a global community, communicating with society, Nordregio has great potential for contributing to the Nordic societies rural, urban and their linkages. As a bonus I have the benefit to be married to a proud Scot, who has dedicated his life to rural development in a global world, and who is a keen sailor. This has taught me to see life from the sea – and becoming a traveller – a nomad in the Nordics – always with music in our mind!

Related Research Projects
Finished
Nordic thematic groups 2021-2024 Robust Regional Preparedness Young Nordic Food Producers – Growing Food(ies) BioBaltic – Nordic-Baltic cooperation within bio-circular-economy Food self-sufficiency in Nordic island societies: the current situation and the way forward The Sustainable Hub to Engage in Rural Policies with Actors (SHERPA) Carbon Neutral Islands Trend analysis for Bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region ESPON ESCAPE – European Shrinking Rural Areas Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Territorial Governance Rural attractiveness in Norden Kicking off Bioeconomy in the North Sino-European innovative green and smart cities (SiEUGreen) Advancing the bioeconomy transition in the Nordic Region (BioWiseTrans) Nordic-Russian bioeconomy pre-study TRIBORN- Triple Bottom Line Outcomes for Bioenergy Development and Innovation in Rural Norway
Related Publications
Growing food(ies): Youth participation and opportunities in the Nordic food sectors Recipe book for regional development: How to improve your community? Growing food(ies): Empowering youth in the Nordic food systems State of the Nordic Region 2024 Selvforsyning af fødevarer i fem nordiske øsamfund Nordregio Strategy 2021-2024 The Nordic Cooperation Programme for Regional Development and Planning 2017-2020 Growing opportunities in Klaksvík Vágur: Improving attractiveness through a change of image Meet Lebesby – challenging but attractive place to live Attractive Rural Municipalities in the Nordic countries: Jobs, People and Reasons for Success from 14 Case Studies Transition to a bioeconomy in Northwest Russia – current potential and challenges Bioenergy Development in Finland and Sweden Bioenergy and rural development in Europe: Policy recommendations from the TRIBORN project
Related Events
Engaging youth in the future of food Launch: State of the Nordic Region 2024 COP26: Nordics are joining the COP with several events Nordregio at the Finnish Rural Parliament 2021 Ruralities and Regions in Transition 26 October: Scottish and Nordic lessons on reversing depopulation Delivering green economies and skills for the future The Nordic Pavilion at COP24 – the UN Climate Summit Skills for resilient regions: Nordregio Forum 2019 BioWiseTrans Final Conference: “People and Networks Matter – Enabling Sustainable Bioeconomy Transition” Conference “Regions – Catalysts of Lithuanian Bioeconomy development” Nordic Ruralities: 5th Nordic Conference for Rural Research
Related News
The future of food: Nordregio at Green Innovation Week 2024 Nordregio Hosts Norwegian and Swedish Ministries Working with Municipal Policies Nordregio and Austurbrú Sign MOU to Strengthen Collaboration in Regional Development Making Europe – and especially rural areas – climate neutral Nordregio contributed to the OECD Rural Development Conference Nordregio at GreenLab Summit 2022 Nordic City Network seminar for stronger cooperation and project planning   SHERPA project working towards sustainable multi-actor platforms BioBaltic: Nordic-Baltic Cooperation on circular bioeconomy Nordregio Researchers at COP26 “Country Road, Take Me Home? – Nordic Sustainable Economy”: New podcast with Nordregio Researchers Nordregio and SLU host a conference “Ruralities and Regions in Transition” Nordregio at Rural Research Day 2021 Submit abstracts now: Ruralities and Regions in Transition, Sweden 5th March, Nordregio presents Nordic service collaboration in an OECD event 30 Nov-1 Dec: Long-term vision for rural areas, SHERPA Bioeconomy – a super force for the Nordic region? 26 October: Scottish and Nordic lessons on reversing depopulation Transition to a bioeconomy in Northwest Russia A Sustainable policy hub for rural actors – SHERPA Building a better future – the Nordic Way Alvdal is in the radar of Attractiveness project State of the Nordic Region presented in Brussels Nordregio researchers involved in a series of new publications
Related Maps
OECD House Price Index. Change 2020Q2–2021Q2 Change in new registered cars 2019-2020 Price development for Danish single-family homes Algae production in 2019 Change in share of biofuels in transport from 2010 to 2018 Share of biofuels in transport in 2018 People employed in the bioeconomy excluding NACE sector A in 2017 and 2009-2017 change People employed in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors (NACE Sector A) in 2017 and 2009-2017 change People employed in the bioeconomy including NACE sector A in 2017 and 2009-2017 change Relative local employment effect 2008-2016
Contact

karen.refsgaard@nordregio.org
+46 763235338

LinkedIn

Academic qualifications

PhD in Institutional Economics, University of Life Sciences, Norway

Languages

Danish

Norwegian

English

Swedish

German

Prior positions

2016-2024: Research Director / Deputy Director, Nordregio

2015-2016: Senior Researcher, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

1997-2015: Senior Researcher and Team-leader for Natural Resource Management and Ground Innovation, Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute

2010: Visiting fellow, Centre for Development Studies (Kerala, India)

2005-2006: Visiting Fellow, University of Vermont (USA)

1994-1997: Researcher , Department of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Life Sciences (Norway)

1992: Research assistant, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences

1991: Visiting fellow, University of Hohenheim (Denmark)

1989-1995: PhD-scholarship, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Life Sciences (Norway)

1988-1989: Lecturer , Icelandic Agricultural University (Hvanneyri, Iceland)