Rural Policies for Sparsely Populated Areas in Finland – Old Problems, New Challenges and Future Opportunities

Abstract Sparsely populated areas are in many countries seen as regressive regions lacking decent future options and demanding continuous support from the more prosperous parts of the country in question. This paper addresses rural policies drawn up in recent years to govern not only the negative trends but also the opportunities which the thinly populated rural areas of Finland are experiencing. Finland is, in the European context, a very sparsely inhabited country with long distances between population centres. Less populated areas account for 68% of the land area of Finland but only 5% of the population. Finland’s long tradition of rural policy implementation has resulted in a comprehensive approach also to the policy measures targeting especially the less populated areas.