Building a High North Growth Pole: The Northern Norwegian City of Hammerfest in the Wake of Developing the "Snow White" Barents Sea Gas Field

Abstract

Global oil industries are moving from well-established economic centres to remote areas in the north. This paper addresses regional impacts, and links the analyses and discussions to theories embedded in Keynes inspired ideas from the 1950'ies of state opportunities to build growth poles in peripheries by governing entering industries. The article analyses changes in the North-Norwegian city of Hammerfest for the period of 2002-2008 during which time the Snow White gas field was developed and includes local supplies positions, local employment changes; commuting patterns; demographic shifts; variation in youth attitude concerning future living; vicissitudes in local housing markets; local tax system changes; local welfare; and gender relations changes. Keywords: global oil industry companies; regional impacts; growth pole strategies; Norway