Source methodology
How claims, data periods and editorial assessments are separated.
The aim is not to add the biggest possible source list. It is to make the evidence behind an important claim easy to trace.
A repeatable review process
Trace the claim from source to conclusion.
Every important comparison should identify the underlying measure, period, source boundary and the point where Nordic Life Guide adds editorial interpretation.
1. Prefer the exact source page
For a numeric claim we prefer a specific statistical table, survey or release over a ministry or statistics-office homepage. For a rule we prefer the exact guidance page that states the condition.
2. Keep comparable measures comparable
A five-country price ranking should use one measure, one period and one unit across all five countries. We do not mix a crowd-sourced Oslo budget with an official Finland national index and call the result a ranking.
3. Record period and checked date
The data period answers 'when is this number about?' The checked date answers 'when did the Research Desk last verify the source page?' They are not the same thing.
4. Label editorial assessment
A statement such as 'Trondheim is a strong technology and research fit' is a planning assessment. It should not be presented as an official government ranking or disguised as a statistic.
5. Review high-impact claims first
Immigration, tax, work eligibility and other high-impact claims need stronger source specificity and should be checked before lower-risk lifestyle wording when a page is refreshed.
6. Document derived research clearly
When the Research Desk creates a comparison baseline, monitor or editorial framework from source data, the method and source boundary are documented. The original official statistic remains attributed to the primary source.
Decision-profile methodology
Country-fit conclusions use published editorial weights rather than a hidden score. Read the Nordic Life Guide Fit Index methodology to see the skilled-worker, student, family and budget-first profiles.
Research library
The Nordic Life Guide research library brings together our comparison data and methods. Each research page shows the method, source period, checked date and the boundary between source data and Nordic Life Guide analysis.