In many rural areas of Sweden, the population has decreased and become increasingly older. Young people are leaving the countryside to seek out new environments, and few return. However, in recent years, rising housing prices in cities and better opportunities for remote work may contribute to more people choosing to move to or spend time in rural areas.

This project consists of two parts that analyze population flows from cities to rural areas and how this affects public services. In the first part of the project, we examine how the rise in housing prices in cities in recent years has influenced young individuals’ decisions to move from larger urban areas to smaller towns and the countryside. Have the high housing prices in cities made smaller towns and rural areas more attractive? Or are there factors that make inexpensive homes in more sparsely populated areas unappealing to young people in cities?

In the second part of the project, we explore how the demand for public services may be affected by part-time residence in rural areas. We do this by examining characteristics such as age, employment status, and income of people who have access to housing in both urban and rural areas. The aim is to link these characteristics to the demand for public services.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.