The Urban System of Eastern Norway

This working paper reports from a study carried out as part of the Interreg IIC project «Urban Systems and Urban Networking in the Baltic Sea Region», and has also been published as part of a seminar report by the VASAB 2010 Secretariat (ISBN 83-913258-3-0). Further information about the project can be obtained through the project web site: http://www.fsl.dk/eng/cooperation/Usun/Index_uk.htm The study of the Norwegian urban system is limited to the counties of Oslo, Akershus, Østfold, Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud, Vestfold and Telemark, commonly referred to as Eastern Norway. Eastern Norway holds slightly less than half the country's population, and is the only comprehensively urbanised region in Norway. The study explores the main elements and major characteristics of the urban system with respect to distribution, administration, major industries and commercial activities, transportation, reproduction and migration, education and research and development. The study also outlines important planning, development and policy issues in the region as well as the region's interaction with the rest of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), and concludes with a few remarks regarding future development and Eastern Norway's position in a future division of labour in the BSR.