ressurssterke

Ressurssterke is a Norwegian term used to describe regions, municipalities, or economic actors with a strong resource base that supports high production capacity and wealth. The concept is commonly employed in policy discussions and regional analysis to denote areas with significant natural resources, such as oil and gas, minerals, fisheries and forestry, as well as robust energy resources or strong human capital and infrastructure that underpin resource-intensive industries. The word is a compound of ressurs (resource) and sterk (strong) and is used descriptively rather than as a formal statistical category.

Indicators of being ressurssterk include a high share of employment in resource-based sectors, substantial tax revenue derived from these sectors, a sizable sovereign wealth fund or investment capacity, and resilient infrastructure for extraction, processing, and export. Resource strength can bolster economic stability and public welfare through fiscal revenues and investment capacity, yet it can also create vulnerability to commodity price cycles and reduce incentives for diversification. Critics highlight risks of the resource curse, environmental impacts, and regional inequalities if wealth from resources is not managed prudently.

The term is also used comparatively in regional development debates to discuss strategies for balancing resource exploitation with sustainable growth, diversification, and transitions toward other industries. While not a formal classification, ressurssterke regions are often central to discussions about economic resilience, fiscal health, and long-term societal well-being in resource-rich contexts.