Welfare Trends in the Scandinavian Countries

Discusses important aspects of the development of the welfare state in the Scandinavian countries and Iceland since the mid-1970s. It focuses on societal changes during a period of modest economic growth. Topics include labour market benefits, education and social mobility, class and inequality, income distribution and trajectories and health.

Preface, Acknowledgments, Part I: The Scandinavian Model, 1. Statism Eroded? Labor-Market Benefits and Challenges to the Scandinavian Welfare States, 2. Sources of Welfare-State Support in Denmark: Self-Interest or Way of Life?, 3. Welfare-State Support in Achievement-Oriented Hearts: The Case of Norway, 4. Variations Within the Scandinavian Model: Iceland in the Scandinavian Perspective, Part II: Class Inequalities, 5. Education, Social Mobility, and Social Reproduction in Sweden: Pattems and Changes, 6. Class and Inequality: The Swedish Experience, 7. Class and Family Effects on Income Distribution: Finland, 1966-81, 8. Class and Health: The Development of the Class Pattem of Morbidity in Finland, 1964-87, 9. Class Mobility in a Swedish City, Part III: Income and Poverty, 10. Income Dependency in Norway, 11. Income Trajectories: Stability and Change in Earnings and Economic Well-Being, 12. The Income Safety Net: Who Falls into It and Why?, 13. Poverty in Sweden, 1975-85, Part IV: Sodal Trends, 14. Main Demographic Trends, 15. Trends and Inequalities in Mortality, 16. Family Formation in Denmark, 17. Changing Pattems of Social Relations, 18. The Female Factor in the Changing Living Conditions in Denmark, 19. Changing Ro1es: Trends in Women's Employment and Gender Equality, 20. Crime, Drogs, and Suicide in the Scandinavian Countries Since 1950, Index, About the Contributors

Robert Erikson, Erik Jorgen Hansen, Stein Ringen, Hannu Uusitalo