Nordic Model

  • The Danish model: Inspiring growth

    The combination ease of dismissal and job and economic security in Denmark has become a big success: 30 percent of Danish workers change jobs every year,unemployment is low, and Danish employees are the most content in the world. Now both employers and employees want to promote the Flexicurity model in Brussels.

    5 minutes
    The Danish model: Inspiring growth

  • “Flexicurity more luck than planning”

    The Danish flexicurity model is more luck than strategic planning, says Kongshøj Madsen, professor of labour market research. He is optimistic, and thinks the Danish tradition of combining flexibility and work security is the model which secures the best development.

    2 minutes

  • Book in review: What future for the Nordic model?

    Slash taxes and cut benefits to put an end to poverty. This is the recipe that is often prescribed by neo-liberal thinkers to solve society’s woes. Doing the opposite, in their minds,would amount to kill the golden goose of economic development.

    3 minutes

  • Warning of a black work market

    There is a clear risk of increased social dumping in the extended Europe. Wages differ widely, and labour laws are interpreted in many different ways. That is why Niklas Bruun, professor of labour law at Sweden’s National Institute for Working Life, wants to encourage European countries to actively fight the emergence of a black labour…

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    6 minutes

  • The Nordic labour market in an extended Europe

    Ever since the early Nineties there has been a close cooperation between the Nordic and the Baltic countries. As the Baltic countries and Poland become members of the EU, the professed openness acclaimed by the Nordic countries through fifty years of cooperation is being put to the test.

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    8 minutes

  • The Mental Bridge

    Education and research in the Øresund region has created strong connections between Denmark and Sweden – but there’s a small difference.

    7 minutes
    The Mental Bridge

  • Nordic cooperation – a question of survival

    There are those who ask whether Nordic cooperation still has a part to play in a Europe run by the EU. That does not apply to Per Unckel. The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers is all enthusiasm. If all doubt regarding the Nordic cooperation has not been dispelled by the time he…

    8 minutes
    Nordic cooperation – a question of survival

  • The labyrinth of maternity leave benefits

    For the past two years in a row, the UNDP has awarded Norway the best place to live in the world. With 10-12 months paid maternity leave, free prenatal care and delivery, and extra child care benefits once the baby is born, who could argue?

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    3 minutes

  • Long term trends in the Nordic discourse on work organization

    The long term trend in work organization has clearly been in the direction of more autonomy and responsibility associated in the work role. This has been combined with a greater emphasis on the ability of each and every member of the organization to communicate directly with other members of the organisation as well as with…

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    7 minutes

  • Council of Nordic Trade Unions: Full steam ahead?

    Free movement of labour is a major benefit, affording the opportunity for increased economic growth and welfare. That much is undisputed. “But, it is important that we are well-prepared to meet the changes and that we are aware of the possible knock-on effects,” says Sture Nordh, Vice-President of the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS).

    5 minutes