Particularly Polar Programs: Social Economics and Divergent Settlement Policies in Postwar Scandinavia

For two decades following World War II, Sweden and Norway diverged markedly concerning domestic migration and urbanization. While the Swedes encouraged migration from economically weak rural districts to more prosperous urban areas, Norway worked to deter migration from its weakest region and retard the growth of its largest cities, including Oslo. This paper highlights economic foundations for those divergent policies, focusing on historical circumstances, conventional thought, and eminent economists. The discussion applies today as nations ponder the possibility of less centralized urban networks.