Successful Public Policy in the Nordic Countries Cases, Lessons, Challenges

by de la Porte, Caroline; Eydal, Guðný Björk; Kauko, Jaakko; Nohrstedt, Daniel; 't Hart, Paul; Tranøy, Bent Sofus

• ISBN13: 9780192856296
• ISBN10: 0192856294
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2022-12-22
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Author Biography

Caroline de la Porte, Professor of European and Comparative Social Policy, Copenhagen Business School,Guðný Björk Eydal, Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Iceland,Jaakko Kauko, Professor of Education Policy, Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University,Daniel Nohrstedt, Professor of Political Science, Department of Government at Uppsala University,Paul 't Hart, Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University,Bent Sofus Tranøy, Professor of Political Science, School of Economics, Innovation and Technology, Kristiania University College

Caroline de la Porte is Professor of European and Comparative Social Policy at Copenhagen Business School. She is a leading scholar in the Europeanization of welfare states. She is particularly interested in why, how, and with which effects EU policy and law influences welfare state reform in member states. In recent years, her work has also focused on Nordic public policies, especially in the area of family policy.

Guðný Björk Eydal is Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Iceland. Her main research field is social, family, and child-care policies in the Nordic countries. Currently, Eydal is directing a long-term research project on the outcome of the paid parental leave legislation in Iceland. She has also been directing a Nordic research project in the field of disaster studies, 'The Nordic Welfare Watch in Response to Changes'.

Daniel Nohrstedt is Professor of Political Science at the Department of Government at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he also serves as research coordinator in the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS). His research interests include policy processes in comparative perspective, policy-making after extreme events, and collaborative governance.

Jaakko Kauko is Professor of Education Policy at the Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, where he co-leads the research group EduKnow (Knowledge, Power, and Politics in Education). His research focuses on the fields of education policy and comparative education. He is currently leading the Academy of Finland-funded project 'Transnational Knowledge Networks in Higher Education Policymaking'.

Paul 't Hart is Professor of Public Administration at Utrecht University. His research interests include positive public administration, political and public service leadership, crisis management, and group dynamics in government.


Bent Sofus Tranøy is Professor of Political Science at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences and at Kristiania University College. He has published in the fields of comparative and international political economy, public policy, organization theory, qualitative methods, and history of science. He was previously employed as a post doc and Associate Professor at the University of Oslo.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Studying Successful Public Policy in the Nordic Countries, Caroline de la Porte, Guðný Björk Eydal, Jaakko Kauko, Daniel Nohrstedt, Paul 't Hart, and Bent Sofus Tranøy
Part I Denmark Successes
2. Organic Food and Farming Policy in Denmark: Promoting a Transition to Green Growth, Carsten Daugbjerg and Yonatan Schvartzman
3. The Success of Danish Wind Energy Innovation Policy: Combining Visionary Politics and Pragmatic Policy Making, Rinie van Est
4. Early childhood education and care in Denmark: A Social Investment Success, Trine P. Larsen and Caroline de la Porte
5. “Living Longer, Working Longer”: An Unlikely Retirement Policy Success?, Fritz von Nordheim and Jon Kvist
6. Cancer Treatment Policy in Denmark, Peter Triantafillou
Part II Norway Successes
7. Gender Quotas for Corporate Boards: A Qualified Success in Changing Male Dominance in the Boardroom, Mari Teigen
8. Student Financing for Social Equity in Norway, 1947-2020, Jostein Askim
9. Promoting and Democratising Literature: A Norwegian Policy Success, Paul Bjerke, Birgitte Kjos Fonn, and Lars Julius Halvorsen
10. Negotiating Dilemmas of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, Camilla Bakken Øvald and Bent Sofus Tranøy
Part III Sweden Successes
11. An All Too Successful Reform? The 1997 Overhaul of the Swedish Budget Process, Andreas Bergh
12. The Swedish Carbon Tax: A Resilient Success, Roger Hildingsson and Åsa Knaggård
13. Gender Equal Parental Leave Use in Sweden: The Success of the Reserved Months, Ann-Zofie Duvander and Sofie Cedstrand
14. Sweden's Policy of Neutrality: Success Through Flexibility?, Douglas Brommesson, Ann-Marie Ekengren, and Anna Michalski
15. The Swedish Child Vaccination Program, Paula Blomqvist
Part IV Iceland Successes
16. Civil Protection Policies in Iceland: Collaboration Between Authorities and Volunteer Organizations, Ásthildur Elva Bernharðsdóttir and Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir
17. Towards an Icelandic Renewable and Sustainable Energy System, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir
18. Paid Parental Leave in Iceland: Increasing Gender Equality at Home and on the Labour Market Through Paid Earmarked Parental Leave, Ásdís Aðalbjörg Arnalds, Guðný Björk Eydal, and Ingólfur V. Gíslason
19. Back From the Brink: Iceland's Successful Economic Recovery, Bent Sofus Tranøy and Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson
Part V Finland Successes
20. The Finnish Baby Box: From a Volunteer Initiative to a Renown Social Security Benefit, Ella Näsi and Karoliina Koskenvuo
21. Quality in Finnish Comprehensive Schools: Entrenching Enhancement-led Evaluation, Jaakko Kauko, Hannele Pitkänen, and Janne Varjo
22. The Finnish Model of Conscription: A Successful Policy to Organize National Defence, Jarkko Kosonen and Juha Mälkki
23. Gender Quotas for Municipal Executive Bodies in Finland, Anne Maria Holli
24. Housing First: Combatting Long-term Homelessness in Finland, Kirsi Juhila, Suvi Raitakari, and Johanna Ranta