It has existed for over 30 years, the so-called action zone for Nord-Troms and Finnmark. Student loan write-downs, lower taxes and exemptions from employer’s tax are just some of the measures that the state has used to encourage people and businesses to settle and establish themselves in the northernmost part of the country. But according to a new report from the analysis company Vista Analyse, the measures have had limited significance, which is reflected in the population trend. – The measures have been important in the first 5-6 years after they were introduced. But then the effect diminishes, says professor of social economics and general manager of Vista Analyse, Håkon Vennemo to news. The analysis was commissioned by the Ministry of Local Government and Districts. Special instruments The tiltak zone for Finnmark and the seven municipalities in Nord-Troms was established in 1990. The background was the crisis in the fisheries and the fishing industry, which in turn led to high unemployment and poor living conditions for the population. In order for Nord-Troms and Finnmark to become attractive places to live and work, a number of special measures were introduced for the region, including these: Exemption from employer’s tax. Write-down of student loans, capped at no more than NOK. 25,000 per year. Forgiveness of student loans for qualified primary school teachers. Exemption from electricity tax on consumption. Reduction in personal taxation. Vista Analysis now states that the measures have had little lasting effect on the settlement in the action zone. According to Håkon Vennemo, this is mainly due to two things: – Many of these instruments have not been index-regulated over time. In real money, the instruments have become less important to people. Over time, the measures have also lost interest in the news. They just “are there”, and are not very motivating, says Vennemo. The biggest places are the exceptions When the action zone was introduced in 1990, a total of around 94,000 people lived in the region. Well over 30 years later, there have been around 1,200 fewer people in the area. However, it is worth noting that Alta municipality has experienced long-term population growth, even in the time before the measures zone was introduced. In recent years, Hammerfest has also seen growth, as a result of the development on Melkøya. For the other municipalities in Nord-Troms and Finnmark, the statistics are discouraging reading. A municipality such as Berlevåg in Finnmark has lost 400 inhabitants since the action zone was introduced in 1990. Another example is Skjervøy. In 1990, over 3,000 people lived in Nord-Troms municipality. Since then, the population has dropped by around 250, statistics from Statistics Norway show. Want to increase child benefit So what can be done to ensure that the measures in the action zone have a better effect? Firstly, the instruments must be presented in a new way, for example through own information campaigns, recommends Vista Analyse. The report also suggests reducing or discontinuing the scheme with exemption from electricity tax, because it has little effect. The money saved can be used to strengthen the other measures in the scheme. At the same time, the report recommends several new measures, such as increasing child benefit. In addition, it is proposed to lower the tax on secondary homes. – What happens if you do nothing? – Then the population development in parts of the action zone will be weak compared to the rest of the country, Vennemo states. – It is important that there are people here Local Government and District Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp) acknowledges that the population trend in Nord-Troms and Finnmark is serious. Now he promises to sit down with the municipalities and the business community in the action zone to look at possible changes to the measures. – The feedback I get from Nord-Troms and Finnmark is that the measures are appreciated, but that there is a desire for them to be reinforced and more targeted, says Gjelsvik. Among other things, families with children in Nord-Troms and Finnmark will be able to benefit from free nursery school. – Think of the large and rich resources that can be found in this part of Norway. It shows how important it is that people live in Nord-Troms and Finnmark, says Gjelsvik. Proposes extra holiday week Tarjei Jensen Bech (Ap) is county mayor in Troms and Finnmark. He is not surprised by the findings in the new report, and points out, among other things, that the measures have not been index-regulated in line with the price rise. It shows that existing measures must be strengthened, and possibly new ones, he believes. – An extra holiday week can be such a new measure, says Bech to news. He also points to the security policy importance of strengthening the action zone, not least with regard to the neighbor to the east. – The most important security policy we can do is to ensure that people live and live in Finnmark. Strengthening the settlement is the most important guarantee for our safety and security, says county mayor Tarjei Jensen Bech.
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The benefits in the action zone for Nord-Troms and Finnmark have had a limited effect, analysis shows – news Troms and Finnmark
