Economic Co-operation in the Barents Region: Russian-Norwegian Trade in the Fishing Industry

Abstract

The fishing industry has been an important economic pillar in North-western Russia and Northern Norway for centuries. Though the significance of the fishing industry has changed over time, it has always have been an important contributor both to domestic and international trade between the northern regions (Nilssen 1996). In this chapter the question of how the regional trade between Northern Norway and North-western Russia has been affected by the transformation from a planned economy towards a market-based economy is discussed. Although the discussion pertains to the bilateral co-operation and trade between Northern Norway and North-western Russia, the main focus is on North-western Russia and the effect that the new economic and political regime has had on industry — with the fishing industry as an example. The discussion is structured by institutional theory and emphasises the effects of changes in higher-order institutions.