Norway.

Description

Few other countries feature the combination of very low population densities and difficult topography that hinders communication, in addition to a variety of contrasting climates. But the "Nordic welfare model" strives, with a good degree of success, to offer equal living conditions to all citizens by providing proper access to quality public services across the country. This comes, however, at great cost. This publication asks whether such a model can be sustainable in the long run, when population ageing and the reduction of petroleum reserves will reduce the leeway that the rapidly growing.  Read more... Acknowledgments Table of Contents Assessment and Recommendations Box 0.1. Norway basic facts and figures Figure 0.1. Norway and the Nordic countries Figure 0.2. Counties in Norway Chapter 1. Regional Performances and Underused Potentials Introduction 1.1. Major demographic and economic trends 1.2. Regional trends 1.3. Underused potentials 1.4. Major issues Notes Chapter 2. Assessing Regional Policies 2.1. Evolution of regional policies in Norway 2.2. Policy for peripheral and declining areas 2.3. Regional competitiveness policies. 2.4. Service delivery in areas with population declineNotes Chapter 3. Governance Issues 3.1. Regional policy challenges 3.2. The institutional framework 3.3. Local government finances 3.4. Vertical and horizontal co-ordination 3.5. Citizen participation 3.6. Future developments Notes Bibliography.