Framing the High North : The role of socio-economic information

Abstract

This paper analyses how socio-economic information is used to build different frames of the High North, and seeks to understand how this may affect different actors with an interest in the region. Framing can be understood as an interpretation that gives meaning to an issue by emphasizing some aspects while omitting others. Our empirical material comes from front-line messages from the Business Index North (BIN) reports, which is disseminated to different stakeholders in print and online; public presentations; and registered feedback from potential BIN users. Our analytical approach builds upon the theory of framing combined with studies of accounting as social and institutional practice. We identify three different ways in which socio-economic information is used to build different frames of the High North: “signalling the gap”, “creating a new positive image of the North”, and “projecting the future”. Our findings suggest that the building of frames based on a mix of competing information sources has the potential to contribute to a learning process and to stimulate debate about regional development in the High North. This adds a new perspective to the mainstream public opinion literature which often views framing negatively and as a source of bias.