Intent of population policies:
Norwegian population policy covers environmental linkages, the legal basis for which is provided in the Health Act. The needs and rights of women are emphasized in national population strategies. Norway does not have a distinct population policy. The country has a special ministry with responsibility for policy on children, gender, and family issues. One of the most important aims is to enable parents to combine family life with participation in working life. Since the mid-eighties and through 1990 the fertility rate in Norway has increased. Since 1990, the fertility rate has been stable. The present fertility rate is 1.87 (1995). This may possibly be a result of measures which aim at reconciling family responsibilities and work outside the home.
Intent of Migration policies:
According to the Norwegian Immigration Act, all foreigners have to apply for permanent residency in order to live and work in Norway, except for citizens of Nordic countries. There are four main reasons for immigration to Norway that are lawfully accepted – employment, education, protection and family reunification.
Effects of Population Policies:
Not surprisingly, the rising fertility pattern in the Nordic countries during the 1980's and early 1990's stirred a renewed interest in the possible pronatalist effect of a generous family policy and stimulated research in this area. Even if this may give a first indication of a possible effect, there are obviously many pitfalls, as there may also be other time trends that are correlated with the trends being analysed. For example, both fertility and policy expansion may be correlated with upturns and downturns in the economy. Overall the effects of population policies have increased the population of Norway by encouraging more people to have more babies.
Effects of Immigration Policies:
Since the 1970s, Norway has become home to thousands of non-European immigrants and refugees. The country's carefully regulated effort to allow only selected migrants to be admitted, together with its commitment to ensuring social equality for those who arrive, closely fits the model to which many other European countries (with varying degrees of success) aspire. In addition to its wealth, Norway has many advantages as a destination country for immigrants and refugees. It has maintained a robust labor market despite recent recessions, and has demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian protection by accepting a number of refugees from the former Yugoslavia.
Ways to Promote and Discourage Population Growth:
To promote population growth The Norwegian Government offers several benefits to families that probably make it easier to have children and reduce the financial risks of raising a family. Parental leave at the birth of a child is long and well compensated. It currently stands at 49 weeks with full wage compensation or 59 weeks with 80 per cent compensation. At least 10 weeks of parental leave is reserved for each parent. Norwegians also have relatively good access to part-time work, which means that parents who cannot or do not wish to work full-time can earn some income. School-age children are kept in school throughout the day, including lunch breaks and afterschool care, making it easier for parents to combine work and child-rearing. Finally, the average work week — at 37.5 hours — is among the shortest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, implying that parents who work are still able to spend considerable time with their children. Given childcare support for working parents, it is not surprising that the employment rate for Norwegian women aged 15–64 is one of the highest in Europe. A comparative study of birth rates in Norwegian municipalities also concluded that the provision of daycare has a substantial positive effect on fertility. The country of Norway promotes population growth and those not discourage it because there is an ageing problem in that country. This means that there's more older people than there is younger people, so they need more younger people to level out their population age gap. Also because in the mid 1960's Norwegian fertility rates felt to it's lowest point.