Ulf Wiberg

Information technology — a challenge for the sparsely populated areas

Abstract The computer and telecommunications technology has created new opportunities for developing interaction between offices and enterprises located far away from each other. Even if the market forces favour concentration to R & D centres in the big cities and in university towns, there are expectations that the distance over‐bridging qualities of the new technology can create development opportunities for sparsely populated peripheral areas. In this paper the interplay between the new technology and other important factors in the local and regional environment are discussed with the focus on both opportunities and restrictions.

Processes Reshaping the Spatial Structure

The purpose of this chapter is to explain and synthesize the on-going processes that work towards a restructuring of the prevailing spatial structure. The basic thesis is that the result of the interplay between these processes leads to the emergence of intermediate regions, with specific characteristics distinct from both the central and the more peripheral regions. Most future-oriented regional studies seem to focus on either core or peripheral regions. Therefore, it is a challenging task for us to argue that in many developed countries, regions between highly urbanized regions at the one hand side and peripheral regions at the other, are facing a new situation in the 1990s. This is due to a number of factors; general economic development, localisation shifts of private enterprise, new household preferences, new technology and the impact of public policy. These factors induce changes in the function of such regions, partly as a consequence of new actors making demands on the territory. Functions are described in terms of goods and services production, residential and recreational assets.

Policy and Planning Perspectives

The characteristics of the Swedish socio-economic continuum is, to a considerable extent, influenced by planning and policy-making. In this chapter we describe long-term and current changes in macro-economic, political and planning conditions. As a result of the emergence of more individual rather than collectivistic values, private rather than public initiatives and increasing periodic mobility for many individuals, a social change is taking place in many regions, rural as well as urban and central as well as peripheral. The important administrative and planning region of the municipality as well as the functional region of the local labour market change their signification. The functions of different regions are becoming more mixed at the same time as each region is trying to develop a profile in order to meet increasing international competition.

Sweden Facing a New Micro- and Macroregional Fragmentation

Paradoxically, contemporary Sweden is characterized by both uniformity and fragmentation. Historically, the territory which is now mentioned as Sweden, consisted of relatively independent regions, the ‘landscapes’. In early medieval times, i e until the 15th century, each of the 24 ‘landscapes’ had its own legislation. Today and for several hundred years, the ‘landscape’ has no administrative meaning although the concept is still alive and widely used in common language as a symbol of the macroregional identity. As an ‘image’ or trade mark, the concept is also sometimes used in regional marketing, e g within the tourist industry. Each of these regions had a more or less distinctive culture. Economic integration was sometimes restricted by trade barriers, but generally practised both among regions and with foreign countries.

Spatial Dimensions of the Emerging Knowledge Society in Sweden

Over the last few decades an educated labour force (with qualifications at the post-secondary level) has become of considerable and increasing importance for the development of economic life and more diversified social structures in all advanced economies of the world. The share of more highly educated people in a local labour market not only indicates the qualitative level of existing economic activities, it is also indicative of general preconditions for the establishment or relocation of institutions and enterprises demanding well educated people.

Dissolution of the Socio-Economic Conformity

In Scandinavian countries, processes of economic integration, political super-nationalism and the globalization of investment, are shaking the traditional foundations of strongly centralised national governments and guided regional and urban-rural development. Scandinavians are finding that the increasing costs of maintaining regional equities in quality of life conditions are threatening their ability to compete effectively in unrestricted world markets. Their response is an increasing tendency towards accepting the standards of private enterprise, free market competition and relatively unfettered capitalistic development. This, they realise, must come in part through a reduction in welfare and regional transfer payments, and with a concomitant decentralisation of governmental authority. What this brings with it is an increasing privatisation of their economies accompanied by an emergence of individual and corporate dominance in the localisation of economic activity. The result is a potential for a new economic structure that, unencumbered by regional development directives, may have unpredictable land use implications.

Patterns of Sectoral and Spatial Change

Current economic processes include the globalization of trade and production networks. This is a trend just as important in North America as in Europe. Economic actors in large as well as in many small corporate firms operate in geographically widespread markets, looking for optimal locations according to production costs and marketing. This, however, does not necessarily mean a concentration of their activities. Just as likely is a pattern of deconcentration. Information on conditions in different sites is readily accessible through both formal and informal channels. The process of relocation of economic activities is facilitated by the rapid structural transformation from goods-handling to service branches. The importance of resource-based production is replaced by production of goods and services with a substantial knowledge content (Figure 3.1 and 3.2).

Regions and Contexts

Current changes in Sweden seem to converge into a situation reminiscent of the US; less public intervention in planning, liberalisation of markets and increasing individual mobility. Thus we will present a comparative analysis of the two countries, starting from the following general observations.

Policy and planning for the urbanized rural areas—The case of Sweden

The rural areas in Sweden are now facing an inevitable situation caused by forces which have become increasingly strong over time. National and international influences have become more dominant in economic, social as well as cultural respects. Rapid expansion of employment and new technology within the information sector are also significant inputs. The traditional role of rural areas as producers of raw materials will be retained, but production will be further automated and demand less employees. In several respects we can identify growing urban characteristics in rural areas, which to a large extent are the outcome of market‐based adjustment processes which have been supported by governmental policy and planning. We shall identify two different visions concerning the future of rural Sweden. Within the Parliamentary Delegation for Development of Sparsely Populated Areas (connected to the Ministry of Industry) a decentralisation strategy has been formulated aiming at consolidating the existing settlemen...