Centre for Regional and Municipality Studies
Rural development research in Iceland
The Centre for Regional and Municipality Studies (Rannsóknasetur í byggða- og sveitarstjórnarmálum, RBS) at Bifröst University conducts academic and applied research on rural and regional development and local government in Iceland, a small, sparsely populated Arctic country.
At the heart of our work is one question:
How can small and remote communities remain sustainable and resilient in the long term, in the face of out-migration, demographic change, global warming, immigration and shifting economic conditions?
The Centre was established in early 2023 through an agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure. Its aim is to promote positive regional development and a strong local government level through research that supports informed public debate and better policymaking. The Ministry may commission projects within the scope of the agreement. Otherwise, research priorities are set in consultation with the Centre's advisory committee.
Research areas
A central theme of our work is migration between regions. We investigate why people, especially young people, leave, stay or return, and what makes places attractive to live in.
Immigration, which now drives population development in many small communities, is another focus. We also analyse coastal communities, remote work and the housing market. Finally, we use social-psychological methods to study community atmosphere and social dynamics in small communities, with a special focus on youth and gender.
This research draws on datasets that are unusual in scope for a country of Iceland's size: Nationwide residents' surveys, the Icelandic Youth Survey, a large-scale business survey, national property register data, and a composite database on municipal finances and services.
International collaboration
We welcome international collaboration and are interested in joining consortia in our field. Our researchers have presented at international conferences including ERSA, the NORA Island Communities Conference and the European Society for Rural Sociology Congress.
