There is a prevailing view of the countryside that is generalized, and at times dark, as areas that exist merely for the cities and seldom as areas with their own innate value. Such a view causes one to miss the diversity found in our various types of rural areas.
Even though some parts of the country are deeply affected by out-migration, increasing numbers of people in Fennoscandia are spending their leisure time in the countryside and it is becoming increasingly synonymous with its role as a producer of services, experiences, and quality of life. France, England and the Netherlands, countries that have improved their transportation networks and infrastructure, are experiencing something that can be described as counter-urbanization, a green wave. This creates great possibilities to attract vital manpower and companies, which in turn can contribute through increased employment and economic growth.
Taxes divided between homes
In Fennoscandia, people often move easily between the city and the country, and feel equally at home in both. The countryside can be a link to one’s heritage and a potential place to spend one’s later days. In Norway, up to a third of the population own a second home and another fifth have access to one. A tenth of the population work or study at their second home, while a third are interested in working at their second home. This suggests that there is reason to start considering whether people’s taxes should be divided between their first and second homes.
Attraction-based in-migration to the countryside
Forest and magnificent nature with a strong cultural lure can serve as an attraction for residents, tourists and companies, which in turn can contribute through possibilities to live and work in the countryside. Assuming it is possible to find a job, as well as other necessities, in the area. This attraction-based in-migration is not driven by economic motives but is rather possible due to increased social well-being. In other words, people can afford to think about where they want to live rather than where they have to live. When new people and competencies are invited to move in, great possibilities arise for rural areas to get support in creating and providing more employment opportunities and economic growth. In-migrants can bring along their companies and their often higher level of education, which can give the community a more varied labor market. Rural municipalities can contribute through good planning and administration, including good schools and a good business climate.
It should also be kept in mind that there are often large networks in a certain rural area thanks to in-migration. An example of this is the case of Thai women who marry Swedish men, which has led to an access to not only local but also national and global networks.
If diversity is ignored, there is a risk that regulations on, for example, land use will be defined with too little consideration for the local conditions. Judgements and policies concerning the countryside must not be simplified and thereby miss the mark.
Facts
E. Carina H. Keskitalo, Svante Karlsson, Urban Lindgren, Örjan Pettersson, Linda Lundmark, Bill Slee, Mariann Villa, Diana Feliciano (2017), “Rural-urban policies: changing conceptions of the human-environment relationship” in: Globalisation and Change in Forest Ownership and Forest Use. Natural Resource Management in Transition. Ed. by E. Carina H. Keskitalo. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.
The study was conducted within the framework of PLURAL, a project financed by FORMAS “Starka forskningsmiljöer” 2012-2017.