Although Norway's overall population is increasing, the population of 75% of rural municipalities has declined over the last 20 years. Such a development is also happening in other Scandinavian and European countries, and a high degree of urbanisation is a worldwide phenomenon. In this research group, the main question is: How can areas with continuous population decline plan for the development of the municipality or region? Can we plan for non-growth while keeping a positive view of these communities? Could such 'realistic planning' be more innovative and innovative? In simple terms, how to plan for the functioning and possible development of communities with expected population decline?
Shrinking geographies and societies
The Shrinking Geographies and Societies research group focuses on the challenges and opportunities in regions with declining and ageing populations.
- Established:
- 2021
- Affiliation:
- Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
- Academic discipline:
- Politics and society
What we research
The topics we research include issues such as: planning for alternative regional and local development strategies (realistic planning), innovative planning, resilience strategies (or resilience of communities and regions), sustainable development, spatial strategies and services. The relationship with multi-family housing, part-time residents, democracy and stakeholder empowerment are also topics of the research group.
More about the research group
The research approach is multi-disciplinary, including planning, geography, social anthropology and public health. The group also collaborates with the 'field of practice' such as municipalities, county councils and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities.
Publications
The research group publishes internationally, nationally and has externally funded research projects (e.g. Regional research CounciI Inland Norway, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development). The members of the group have extensive dissemination activities.
For example:
- Bråtå, Hans Olav (2020). Kommuner med befolkningsnedgang. - Hva sier forskningen om strategier, planer og tiltak, og hva er kunnskapsbehovet? Lillehammer: Høgskolen i Innlandet (Skriftserien nr. 17).Hagen, A& Higdem,U (eds.) (2020). Innovation in Public Planning: Calculate, Communicate and Innovate. London, Palgrave Macmillan.
- Hagen, Higdem & Overvåg; Planning to meet challenges in shrinking rural regions. Towards innovative approaches to local planning. Fennia.
- Ulla Higdem, (2021) – video «Selv med nedgang i folketallet kan livet på bygda være godt» https://www.inn.no/forskning/forskningsnyheter/selv-med-nedgang-i-folketallet-kan-livet-pa-bygda-.html?fbclid=IwAR2laqfmqaxCswasEdNXEY-1GktLfF-oeMCH1GVpEbM9pCd7kNYJxLFOvVs
- Merethe Lerfald, Birgitta Ericsson og Ulla Higdem, (2022), Ja, kommunen skal ville noe med fritidsboligutvikling https://www.gd.no/ja-kommunen-skal-ville-noe-med-fritidsboligutvikling/o/5-18-1524257?fbclid=IwAR2_7pq_Ee6qN6ibfwoxJqtqfd1yVr_oBmN1gXvdwwReXvMGxx_5wt1sxSY
- «Forskertog» Aksel Hagen og Ulla Higdem, (2021) om Realistisk planlegging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9_6uhgQ-3s
Conferences and events
The research group participates at scientific and other conferences; such as the Conference of Planning Universities in Europe (Planning Research) https://aesop2022.eu/, the Nordic Geography Conference (NGM), https://www.ngm2022.fi/, and the International Mountain Conference, https://www.imc2022.info.
Networks
The research group is part of the Nordic research group 'Shrinking Societies' led by Josefina Syssner, Linköping University. We have established co-operation with the University of Eastern Finland, the Karelian Institute (Petri Kahila), the EURAC Institute in Italy (Alpine regions) Thomas Streifeneder, University of Estonia, Garri Raagmaa, Josefina Syssner UiL, and the University of Tromsø, Toril Ringholm on "Innovative planning in areas with declining population".
Contact the research group
Professor
- ulla.higdem@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 61 28 80 55