Kansalaisten oikeuksien ja vakaan julkisen talouden yhteensovittaminen: Pohjoismaiden tapaus

In the English speaking world the economic model of the Nordic countries that combines economic efficiency and growth with a peaceful labour market, a fair distribution of income and social cohesion is often regarded as an enigmatic puzzle. In the Nordic world there remains a commitment to providing a safety net, whilst at the same time being open to globalization and a market economy. Yet many outsiders wonder how these economies prosper when they have weak economic incentives due to high taxation, generous social security systems and a relatively egalitarian distribution of income. The suggestion by some advocates of the Nordic model is that such security assists in making the Nordic countries more competitive. This has an air of paradox about it, for many in the English-speaking world since there it is assumed that people are largely self-interested and will only be motivated to act (and to produce), if the strongest financial incentives possible are available to them. Given that the Nordic model relies in part on high levels of taxation, there is also a necessity in the Nordic world for citizens to be motivated, at least partly, by the common good. In this paper I explore recent challenges (both practical and intellectual) to this model and how those challenges might plausibly be met.