No matter how successful the Nordic Model may be in producing and expanding human welfare it will always be subject to attack as long as human nature remains at its current state of evolution.
-The Nordic News Network
Scandinavia is a region of Northern Europe that includes Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. All the countries of Scandinavia share similar languages, are ethnically homogeneous, and are known to be punctual, honest, and modest. While each country does have its differences, they all have one major thing in common: the Nordic Model. All the Scandinavian countries are Social Democracies, which basically means that citizens pay high taxes, but in return the government provides a great deal of things to everyone. However, there is also criticism of the welfare state, with complaints ranging from people taking advantage of the system to dissatisfaction of the brutal taxation. Although the Nordic Model has its problems, the benefits and the quality of life that results from it outweighs the bad, which is shown by the prosperous Scandinavian states.
The Nordic Model is the term for the Scandinavian states economic system. The government equally provides the same thing for each of its citizens. Many things are provided by the government, like universities, health care, maternity leave and social security. But there are other aspects of the Nordic Model too. Social Democrats support regulated private enterprise, high taxes in return for high public service, thorough working laws, like minimum wage and working conditions, and a strong policy of equality for all citizens. However, to make all these things possible, citizens must pay high taxes. In Norway, for example, the majority of ...
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...05, “Looking After Everyone,” Gale Research, Reproduced in History Resource Center, http://galenet.galegroup.com.
Siri Leisson, personal interview, 27 May 2010
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_lit_adu_at_hig_lit_lev-education-literacy-adults-high-level
Becker, New York Times,October 2005, “Nordic Countries Come Out Near the Top in Two Business Surveys”
The Economist (US), June 2003, “Kyrbbe to Grav”
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/peo_gen_dev_ind-people-gender-development-index
Siri Leisson, personal interview, 27 May 2010
http://cupe.ca/updir/Public_profile_Sweden.pdf
Kuehnelt-Leddihn, National Review, December, 1988, “Paradise Lost.”
Ibid
Norberg, The National Interest, Summer, 2006, “Swedish models: the welfare state and its competitors.” http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=articles&articleid=151
Ibid
Ibid
In Norway capitalism has been combined with socialism.
In comparing the U.S. to Sweden, it has become very obvious that Sweden has taken its population health much more seriously. Sweden has put in place laws and programs which affect the prenatal and neonatal development of its children. (Bezruchka, 2011) Sweden has realized that good health outcomes begin early, and has in place social programs giving new mothers a mandatory year of paid leave. (Bezruchka, 2011) This paid leave allows the parents, especially the mother, time to be present during the most critical time of development. (Laureate, 2011) Sweden also has state funded day care centers for when the mother does return to work. By investing in the early stages of child development, Sweden is curbing the expenses of later health care costs. The U.S., in comparison, does not have any programs for maternity, paid leave or child day care. There are a few corporations such as Facebook, Google, and Cisco which are at the forefront of providing for their employees. (Alsever, 2013) These represent corporations investing in their employees, and not a government concerned about the health of its people. The programs are not free to the employees. (Alsever, 2013)
Sanger, Mary Bryna. The Welfare Marketplace: Privatization and Welfare Reform. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2003.
Blau, J. (2004). The dynamics of social welfare policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Magoon, Kekla. The Welfare Debate. Edina: ABDO Publishing Company, Inc. 2009. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Print.
"Highlights of the Libertarian Party's 'Ending the Welfare State' Proposal." Libertarian Party: The Party of Principle. 1994-2001. 8 Dec. 2002. <http://www.lp.org/issues/welfare.html>
Surrey: Avebury. Timmins, N. (1996) 2nd Ed. The Five Giants: A Biography of the Welfare State. Glasgow: Fontana Press.
Albelda, Randy. “Fallacies of Welfare-to-Work Policies”. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Vol. 577, JSTOR Sept. 2001. 66-78.
Dolgoff, R. & Feldstein, D. (2003). Understanding social welfare (7th ed). New York, Allen & Bacon
... A. ”Stand up for Denmark!” Slate Magazine, 21 Feb. 2006. Web. The Web.
The greatest benefit comes from how a political economy analyses power, influence, and political ideology to shape public policy-making. (Bryant 2015, Coburn 2010, and Raphael 2010,2015) agree that, social democratic welfare states (e.g., Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) have the most ideal political economy, as they are least stratified and enjoy more government funded social aid programs, hence, less prevalence of social inequality. Therefore, the recipe for achieving a society with low social inequality and improved conditions for SODH; involves a change in the political economy, which requires governments addressing social and or public policies. In providing more social for its people, will in turn improve health outcomes and result in
During and after World War I, in which Sweden remained neutral, the nation benefited from the worldwide demand for Swedish steel, ball bearings, wood pulp, and matches. Postwar achievement provided the basis for the social welfare policies characteristic of modern Sweden. Sweden followed a policy of armed impartiality during World War II and currently remains independent. Sweden became a member of the European Union in 1995.
Norway is one of the “three fingers” of Scandinavia, and is just larger than New Mexico. It covers 125,181 square miles. It is located in Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The coastline stretches 21,925 km. The population of Norway is 4.3 million and growing. The population is predominantly or Nordic (Scandinavian) decent. There is also a small minority (20,000) of native Sámis (Laplanders), who live mostly in the North. Many aspects of business and management in Norway are very similar to those of America including language and communication, power structures/politics, work ethics, food and eating habits, dress, and religious beliefs.
Erik Erikson was a researcher of the Psychodynamic perspective who lived through the years 1902 to 1994. He developed a theory that dealt with the stages of human development and was referred to as a Neo-Freudian. A Neo-Freudian are those “who have revised Sigmund Freud’s theory” (Massey, 1986). His theory argued that “both society and culture challenge and shape us” (Feldman, 2011). Erik Erikson’s theory of psychological development does not specify specific ages, so the age categories can only be guessed upon. It is my personal thought that this was a smart move due to different age milestones for different cultures. The essay titled Erik Erikson: Ages, stages, and stories argues that the stages “are organized into a system of polarities that tempt us to think about psychological dynamics in a form that is more binary than Erikson intended.” Each stage has a ‘resolution’ or goal. Each stage presents a “crisis or conflict that the individual must resolve” (Feldman, 2011, p.16)
Such as the idea that the system is concerned with preserving status differential like workers and housewives which can lead to benefits that vary. A third welfare system is the Social Democrat or Scandinavian type. The Scandinavian type exists in Northern Europe and provides generous benefits to all citizens. A distinguishing feature of the Scandinavian type is the idea of Universalism and the emphasis on social equality. The system’s policies exist throughout one’s life or “cradle to grave.” A forth welfare system is the Southern European type which is similar to the Corporatist Continental type, but has less size and scope. Finally, there is the Communist East European welfare state which follows the Soviet Union’s model for social security (Kaelble 265). Overall, Europe has five unique types of welfare states. Each system has a different idea on how government should operate and how much government should intervene to help its citizens. The differences in the development of welfare states in Europe, particularly during the Cold War period, have led to deep divisions in Europe. Countries hold a different set of values and principles that must be respected in order to form a strong