from the Nordic Model?

2007

Main d'oeuvre et développement: Que retenir du modèle nordique? Asbjørn Wahl Résumé Cet article examine l'État providence tel qu'il s'est développé au cours du dernier demi-siècle, particulièrement dans les pays scandinaves. L'auteur fait valoir que ceci représente plutôt le résultat d'une évolution historique spécifique au vingtième siècle qu'une partie intégrante d'une progression générale vers le développement. Elle ne peut donc être reproduite. L'État providence, sous forme d'un capitalisme bien réglementé, n'était pas l'objectif premier du mouvement ouvrier dans les pays du Nord, mais plutôt le résultat d'un pacte social entre capital et main d'oeuvre. De nos jours, le capital s'est plus ou moins retiré de ce pacte et a commencé à attaquer et à saper les réussites acquises durant les années de l'État providence, augmentant de ce fait la pauvreté et élargissant l'écart entre riches et pauvres. Un mouvement syndical dépolitisé et dé-radicalisé a été acculé à la défensive. L'auteur en conclut que le principal objectif du mouvement ouvrier d'aujourd'hui, au Nord comme au Sud, doit donc être de limiter le pouvoir du capital et de soumettre l'économie à un contrôle démocratique. Ce résultat ne se produira pas par le dialogue social et la coopération tri-partite, mais bien par la lutte des classes et la confrontation sociale.

2007

Résumé Cet Introduction There is a lot of heated discussion on the welfare state, or the European Social Model 2 as it is often referred to in Europe. In my part of the world we call it the Nordic Model, which by people throughout the world is being considered the most advanced version of this social model. The welfare state represented great progress in terms of living and working conditions, unprecedented in the history of mankind. Public health, life expectancy and social security improved enormously over a short period of time as the welfare state developed in the last century. It, therefore, became enormously popular among ordinary people. In the current era of neoliberal hegemony, however, the welfare state is being attacked by strong political and economic

The Nordic countries are often bundled together, as representatives of a ‘model’ which combines high living standards and an open market economy with social insurance and ambitious public services. Yet, the economic and political development of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden towards this model has taken quite different roads. Sweden’s economic development from the late nineteenth century onwards can be seen as a rather spontaneous industrial breakthrough, whereas the state has in both Norway and Finland assumed a more active and interventionist role in mobilizing resources and managing natural endowments. However, the four countries are quite similar in their acceptance of the market economy, technical progress and economic openness, coupled with a pursuit of equality and a state that has alleviated resistance to change by signalling a will to share the gains and losses due to structural change.

This background paper of the “Plan Nord Forum: The North Matters”, held in Québec City in May 2012, was published when the new government of Québec announced, upon taking power, its intention to conduct an extensive review of the Plan Nord. Nonetheless, the government has declared that it wishes to continue to develop the North; it seems relevant to us to publish this report, using presentations made during the Plan Nord Forum, and present a large number of findings on the potential risks of the Plan Nord as imagined and implemented by the previous Liberal government. This background paper also proposes several possible solutions, which deserve consideration from the new government that want to redefines its northern development priorities.

2008

In this paper, we try to point out some important weaknesses of the contemporary French socialeconomic model, focusing on relevant elements of comparison with Nordic countries. In doing so, we rely on the idea that large and small countries differ in terms of growth and governance strategies. Hence, while the “Nordic model” can be a good revelatory of some of

Contesting Nordicness: From Scandinavianism to the Nordic Brand, 2021

2014

The Nordic model -challenged but capable of reform Tarmo Valkonen and Vesa Vihriälä (eds.) Contributions by:

The Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images, 2021

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2011

Journal of northern studies/Journal of Northern studies, 2021

Governments around the Circumpolar world are attempting to ensure the long-term viability of northern economies, generally by supporting the natural resource economy and seeking opportunities to promote "new economy" commercial development. The challenge is formidable, in large measure because few Arctic or sub-Arctic regions have the research capability, highly skilled personnel, venture capital, accessible markets and entrepreneurial drive necessary to compete in the global science and technology-based economy. Communities in Norrbotten County in Sweden have made significant efforts to develop contemporary economic opportunities. This essay considers efforts made by a series of northern centres-Arjeplog, Kiruna, Luleå, Skellefteå and Haparanda-to build jobs and businesses beyond traditional northern economic activities, demonstrating that creative and determined northern regions can compete successfully in the age of rapid technological transformation.