Appendices

Appendix 1: List of interviewees

Bornholm, Denmark

Keuruu, Finland

Stykkishólmur, Iceland

Orkland, Norway

Åland

Jämtland Härjedalen, Sverige

Appendix 2: Interview questions

• Do you think opportunities to work remotely has or could have an impact on the attraction and/or retention of population in …. (name of town)?
• Do you regard remote work as an important or a marginal phenomenon in relation to rural/regional development?
• What remote work patterns to you expect to prevail long-term? Differences between sectors?
• Do you think opportunities of distance learning could have an impact on population retainment or attraction? (If yes, please relate also to distance learning in the questions below, however keeping the focus on remote work in mind.)
  §  If yes, go to section 2. If no, why?

• What effects of remote work have you seen so far in relation to migration patterns? What types of “in-movers”? In which sectors do they work? How important in relation to other “in-movers”?
• Have remote work opportunities had an impact on the present population e.g. in terms of where they work (within the town or commuting patterns)? Is remote work an opportunity to retain population that might otherwise have moved away permanently? If yes, in what sectors do they work?

• What are the main opportunities for your town/region/municipality of in-migration of permanent residents and/or higher levels of non-resident population (second home users and tourists)?
• What opportunities do you see related to retained or new population based on remote work opportunities? Is there a difference between permanent population and temporary (multilocal)?
• What measures might have to be taken to ensure a good outcome in relation to these opportunities?

• What features of the town/region/municipality do you deem to be important to attract or retain population in general? What factors do you think could make your town/region/municipality attractive to remote workers? What factors might be less attractive to remote workers?

• What challenges do you see related to population growth? Differences between permanent and temporary (multilocal) population? How might these challenges be addressed? What solutions are implemented or discussed?

• Is the public sector responding to the trend of increased remote working? If yes, how?
• What functions of the municipality are involved in remote work-related issues? Are there municipal strategies and allocated resources related to remote work opportunities?
• Has the municipality taken steps to encourage remote work or to discourage action that could lead to negative effects thereof?
• Is there any support to the public or private sector to facilitate remote work?
• Does the municipality get support/incentives/directives for remote work initiatives (e.g. from the state or region)?
• Are there legal or administrative barriers to remote work? Taxation? Working environment? Other?

• What have been the main planning challenges experienced during the pandemic (and after)? In relation to remote work going forward?
• What specific rural/regional development considerations are raised? How has rural/regional planning responded (new initiatives/strategies/planning tools)? What issues have been brought up on the agenda for the future? What might be related to remote work opportunities?

• Is there anything else you would like to share about the (potential) effects of increased remote work in your town/regional/municipality?

• Is there anyone else in the municipality/region that you would recommend us to talk to?
• Are there any (municipal/regional) documents that would be beneficial for us to read? Studies or statistics you find useful?