Demographic challenges in regional development: A study of regional political leadership in Sweden and Finland

Urbanization has fostered territorial polarization in many countries with the shift from an industrial to an increasingly knowledge-based economy. This shift benefits urban regions by spurring economic development, while many rural regions experience population decline, shrinking tax bases, and economic stagnation. While demographic development is a major factor in regional development, it is unclear how it affects regional political leadership. This article examines how demographic factors affect politicians’ influence on regional development in Sweden and Finland based on survey data of regional council representatives from both countries (n = 930). The findings indicate that strong population growth does not have a strong influence on regional development in these countries, implying that regional political leadership is not limited to dynamic urban regions with great development prospects, as leadership is also present in rural regions. Moreover, political variables are more important for politicians’ influence than demographic factors.