Atle Midttun

In the first decades of the 21st century, some Norwegian commentators have been calling for an increased emphasis on commercial competition in Norwegian business and education, and an increased focus on profits as a measure of relevance and utility. This trend poses a threat to the social welfare model in Norway as it is traditionally construed. We argue that the success of the Nordic model during the last century rests on a synergy between competitiveness, inclusiveness and equality, and this combination is what has made the ‘model’ so sustainable and resilient.