Cerut, Centre for Research on Regional Development

The research and social dialogue focuses on people´s total life situation, i.e. work, leisure and social relationships. Key concepts are the region as a living environment, sustaineble development and growth.

Research Issues

Cerut’s research is focused on two key issues:
• What characterises a region as a living environment?
• What characterises sustainable regional growth?

The first issue involves studying regional units and regional change in the light of people’s living conditions and opportunities. The research must take a number of aspects into account, including economy, working life, health, leisure, culture, influence and control.

The second issue highlights sustainability, relating in particular to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of change. Both issues presuppose studies of a critical, interpretative and constructive nature.

Thematic Research Areas

Cerut’s research and development activities are concentrated on three thematic areas:
- production, consumption, identity and culture
- welfare, health and quality of life
- forms of control, influence and ability to take action

Several disciplines are involved in the research, including human geography, political science, sociology, public health science and economics.

Cerut and the Region

It is intended that the knowledge generated within Cerut will be of use in regional development, strategic planning etc. One of the tasks of Cerut is to disseminate this knowledge by means, for instance, of direct project collaboration, popular science lectures, seminars and conferences. Researchers may also be invited to study an issue of particular relevance to an individual’s or an organisation’s activities. Research reports, overviews and abstracts are also available from Cerut.

The centre is supported by Karlstad University, the Värmland County Administrative Board and Region Värmland.