Svenska Kulturfonden, Stiftelsen Finlandssvenska Jordfonden (2025-2026)
The research project aims to increase understanding of the process of staying in rural areas by focusing on factors and activities that motivate people to choose to remain in their home regions.
To capture the dynamics of staying, the project examines the factors and activities that people and local communities engage in to enable a choice to stay, as well as the reasons behind these decisions.
By analysing the dynamics and geographical characteristics that influence the decision to remain in rural areas, the project is expected to provide valuable insights into the significance and role of retention in the long-term development of rural areas. The long-term goal is to contribute to a broader understanding of the process of staying, where the character of the place, social and economic resources, and residents’ commitment to their communities play a crucial role in a sustainable rural society. In this way, the project provides a basis for future development efforts.
Researchers:
PhD Kenneth Nordberg Åbo Akademi (project leader)
PhD Magnus Enlund Migration Institute of Finland
Msc. Dan Sundblom Migration Institute of Finland
Student Sofia Londen Åbo Akademi
Åbo Akademi (lead partner), Migration Institute in Finland (partner)