Roger Marjavaara

The Displacement Myth: Second Home Tourism in the Stockholm Archipelago

Abstract Second homes are important for many households in Sweden. However, second homes are not uncontroversial and sometimes cause conflicts between the second home owners and locals. In attractive destinations, second homes are frequently blamed for creating price inflation, increased property values and higher property tax for all dwellings, including permanent homes. It is argued that this development is causing a displacement of permanent residents from these areas. However, others argue that the current depopulation trend in attractive second home destinations is caused by a restructuring of the rural labour market. This study departs from this societal and scientific conflict and has its aim in testing the displacement theory. This is done through an empirical case study dealing with essential issues regarding the development of second homes, permanent homes and changes in property values. The case area is the most popular second home destination in Sweden: the archipelago of Stockholm. Results show that increased assessed property values are caused primarily by increasing numbers of permanent homes, and the area is being repopulated rather than depopulated. The study concludes that no evidence of displacement caused by second home demand can be traced on a regional geographical level.

The Development of Second Homes' Assessed Property Values in Sweden 1991–2001

The second home phenomenon is deeply rooted within the Swedish society. To own a second home or have frequent access to a second home is important and desirable for the Swedish population. The comparably high level of second home ownership in the country manifests this. Second homes are scattered all over the country, with main concentrations in or near densely populated areas. Some, not unimportant, concentrations can be registered in places with relatively low population density and at a considerable long distance from major population centres. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in second homes among the Swedish population, but also increasingly from incoming visitors. This has resulted in a growing competition for properties, especially those located in attractive areas with high amenity values. The purpose of this paper is to identify attractive second home landscapes and their characteristics in Sweden. Utilizing data from the comprehensive geo‐referenced database ASTRID (generated by Statistics Sweden) covering all second homes in Sweden 1991–2001, attractive second home landscapes are examined and defined.

The Seasonal Buzz: Knowledge Transfer in a Temporary Setting

Abstract Much of the debate regarding how firms and places can stay competitive in a globalized economy is focused on innovative capabilities. Issues of knowledge creation, innovation and knowledge transfer within and between individuals and firms is a central field of research. Here, the local buzz is frequently mentioned as highly important for sustaining the innovation and knowledge-creation process among firms. Previous research has mainly focused on the effects of a local buzz situated at the place where the firm is located. In this article, we argue that there is a geographically displaced buzz that occurs on a temporary basis during leisure time, characterized by a heterogeneous composition of individuals. This can potentially boost the innovative capability of single firms and the destinations where it occurs. We term this the seasonal buzz. This paper discusses, empirically tests and analyses a possible seasonal buzz, based on a questionnaire survey targeting second-home owners at a ski resort in Sweden. Results support the assertion that there is a seasonal buzz, that new networks are created, and that the information exchanged is important for individuals in their professional life as well.

Second Home Ownership: A Blessing for All?

Abstract Second home ownership is often regarded as being positive for the owners. Previous research shows that owning a second home means a great deal for the general satisfaction and quality of life of the owners. Historically, the political goal of expanding second home ownership among the Swedish population was to improve health and well-being and provide access to outdoor recreation and rural landscapes for the growing urban population, which is assumed to correlate with high satisfaction and quality of life among individuals. However, owning a second home does not always relate to positive experiences for owners, an issue not highlighted in previous second home research. Therefore, the purpose of the research presented here is to add to existing theories on second home ownership with special reference to the ambiguous relationships that exist between owners and their second homes. This is done by exploring and describing the group of second home owners who express negative experiences. The data used are retrieved from a nationwide questionnaire survey, targeting a representative sample of second home owners in Sweden during 2009. Results show that some 72,000 second home owners in Sweden can be defined as less satisfied and that age, health and income are important for ownership satisfaction.

An Inquiry Into Second-Home-Induced Displacement

The aim of this study is to shed empirical light on the debate concerning second-home tourism and displacement of permanent residents. This is done by studying the most exclusive second-home area in Sweden, the Stockholm archipelago, and especially the island of Sandö, one of the most affected islands. Data were collected using a questionnaire examining all out-migrants from the island during the period 1991–2006. The questions concern out-migrants’ reasons for leaving the island and the extent to which second-home development had an impact on their migration decision. The core question is whether second-home tourism poses a displacement effect on the permanent population, through price inflation and limiting the supply of dwellings.

Mapping an invisible population: the uneven geography of second-home tourism

ABSTRACT Second-home tourism is a very popular form of tourism in many countries, particularly in the Nordic countries. More than half of the Swedish population have access to second homes. Previous studies have revealed that there is great variation between different second homes. Examples range from rustic Australian shacks, lonely cabins in the Norwegian mountains, spacious Swedish archipelago villas and palatial Russian dachas. Still, second homes are often seen and analysed as a unitary category – a perspective that obscures the considerable heterogeneity within the category as well as spatial differences in the impact of second-home tourism. Using a second-home typology from previous research and data on about 660,000 second homes, we analyse the heterogeneity of second homes by mapping the composition of the Swedish second-home stock. Results show the uneven geography of second-home tourism, revealing significant and sometimes steep differences between peripheral areas and urban hinterlands, tourism hot-spots, and areas in decline. Based on these results, we assert that there is good cause to move away from using second homes as a unitary category. Instead, we argue for viewing second homes as an umbrella concept with dwelling use in focus. This enables a greater sensibility to place and more accurate analyses of the uneven impacts of second-home tourism. The results also give greater insights into the impact of the ‘invisible population’ of second-home owners from a public planning perspective.

Selecting a place of rest after a life on the move : determinants of post-mortal mobility in Sweden

Abstract Mobility among humans is a central feature in today’s society. From the day we are born until the day we die, humans are engaged in different types of mobilities. However, most studies on human mobility focus on actions performed by individuals when they are alive, which is not at all strange. However, as proven in previous studies, people do not cease to be mobile just because they happen to die. On the contrary, death is often a trigger for mobility. The mobility of the dead, or post-mortal mobility, is a growing phenomenon in many Western countries and represents the continuation of human mobility to a place of great significance for the individual or the survivors. This study addresses the determinants of post-mortal mobility, by scrutinizing data from a nationwide questionnaire survey in Sweden. Linking theoretical developments in the field of attachment to place and issues of mortality and deathscapes, this study tries to expand the knowledge concerning individuals’ desires regarding their final act of mobility.

New mobilities – new economies? Temporary populations and local innovation capacity in sparsely populated areas

Temporary population mobilities – including short-term labour, residential and recreational mobilities – have long been a prominent feature of human geography in sparsely populated areas. Such mobi ...