Public policy, gender equality and labour markets
Policy making in the Nordics is characterised by the welfare state and a culture of working together, from the cross-party parliamentary culture, to tripartite negotiations between the government, employers and employees, to gender inclusiveness in the workplace. Many of these aspects are seen as making up what is often referred to as the Nordic model. However, gender segregation within the workforce remains high and other complex paradoxes exist that must not be overlooked. This page seeks to provide articles on both the traditional view of the Nordics as well as research that deconstructs that view. New articles are added on a regular basis.
2019.02.25 | The Quick Read, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, Public policy
Hydroelectricity in the Nordic countries
Hydroelectricity is a significant source of energy particularly in Norway and Iceland. While Greenland has invested in hydroelectricity since 1990, the establishment of new facilities has stagnated elsewhere in the Nordics due to concern about the environmental impact.
2019.02.25 | Article, Eric S. Einhorn, Economy
Overview of taxation in the Nordics
Tax policy is a core instrument of public policy in the Nordic countries. Whilst popular media often criticise the high taxes in Nordic countries, the public generally recognises that taxes provide necessary support to essential services. They know that to ‘slash’ taxes also means slashing healthcare, education, social security, and numerous other…
2019.02.25 | Article, Peter Thaler, Governance
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands (Føroyar) consist of 18 main islands situated halfway between Scotland and Iceland in the North Atlantic. Their combined landmass of 1399 square kilometres is as of 2018 populated by approximately 50,000 inhabitants, of whom more than one-third live in the capital of Tórshavn. While part of the realm of Denmark, the Faroe Islands…
2019.02.22 | Article, Astrid Elkjær Sørensen, Gender, Labour markets
Gender segregation in the Nordic labour market
Since the 1960s the Nordic countries have been renowned for their high level of gender equality as they have amongst the world’s highest employment and education rates for women. At the same time the Nordic countries also have greater horizontal segregation by sex than the rest of the EU, that is, most women work in different occupations than most…
2019.02.22 | Video, Saara Ratilainen, Media, Gender, Research, The Nordics in the World
Russian fans interacting with Nordic television series (the case of Shame)
This presentation is from a transdisciplinary research workshop entitled Nordic Noir, Geopolitics and the North held at Aarhus University in October 2018.
2019.02.21 | The Quick Read, John Logue, Economy, Democracy
Wage earner funds in Sweden, 1960s & 70s
The term wage earner fund refers to different models of redistributing profit amongst workers of individual employers or sectors. It is often characterised by the 1975 Meidner’s model which set out that new stocks issued could be paid to funds, which would be administered by a group of directors with advice from trade unions.
2019.02.21 | The Quick Read, Norbert Götz, Governance, Democracy
Parliamentary culture in the Nordic countries
The Nordic countries have a particular parliamentary culture characterised by consensus and working across party lines. Their parliaments remain influential institutions considering the general trend towards greater executive power. The principles of parliamentary government and universal suffrage were introduced comparatively early in Norden. The…
2019.02.21 | Article, Norbert Götz, Public policy, Democracy
Corporatism and the Nordic countries
Corporatism is about the influence of organisations and interest groups on policy making. The Nordic countries are societies with strong interest groups, acknowledged and privileged by the state, that wield considerable influence on policy making and implementation. Corporatism, or neo-corporatism, is found within industrial relations, but is also…
2019.02.19 | Article, David Redvaldsen, Labour markets
Labour movement in the Nordic countries
The 'labour movement' refers to the network of political, industrial, voluntary, educational and recreational organisations with a socialist or labour ethos. From the late nineteenth century, its aim was to improve living and working conditions for blue-collar workers and their families, and was organised around national trade union…
2019.02.18 | Article, Kristina Bækker Simonsen, Multiculturalism, Public policy
Political approaches to immigration in Scandinavia since 1995
Immigration has been described as one of the policy areas where Denmark, Norway and Sweden have differed most since 1995. In 2018, Denmark was amongst the most restrictive countries in Western Europe, Sweden the most liberal and Norway somewhere in-between. These differences can be explained, at least to some extent, by divergent approaches to…