Scandinavian Common Sense

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When some claim austerity is the only answer to today’s economic woes, a close look at the best practices in Scandinavia and Finland gives pause for thought.

Cited as models for their egalitarian social and health policies, these countries also have thriving economies where the gap dividing rich from poor is smaller than elsewhere. Despite their quasi mythic status, the policies implemented to combat inequalities in health are neither well known nor understood.

Policies discussed in Scandinavian Common Sense include education, housing, conciliation of work and family life, daycare, sustainable development and more. For these policies to be part of political debate, be it in Quebec, Canada, the United States or elsewhere, they must be in the public domain. That is the purpose of this book.

Table des matières

Table des matières
Scandinavian Common Sense	1
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	7
CONTENTS	9
THE AUTHORS	12
PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION	13
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION	17
INTRODUCTION	19
Research of use to decision-makers	21
The choice of studying the Nordic countries	21
Aim and target audience	22
Methodology	22
CHAPTER 1. Social Inequalities in Health:a Real and Persistent Problem	25
Obvious links	25
Some hypotheses on causality of poverty and illness	27
A global trend	34
Widening gaps in Canada	34
The situation in Quebec	36
Possible solutions	37
CHAPTER 2. The Best Strategies for ReducingSocial Inequalities in Health	39
The Netherlands’ program of studies	39
The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health	41
The role of policy in reducing poverty	44
Sustainable development	45
CHAPTER 3. The Example of the Nordic Countries	47
The fight against poverty	47
Reducing inequalities	50
Decent living conditions	52
Sustainable development	52
CHAPTER 4. The Characteristics of the Nordic Countries’ Policies	55
Universality and social protection	55
Prevention first and foremost	57
Policy integration	58
The redistribution of wealth	59
Gender equity as a fundamental principle of public policy	61
High employment rate and measures for supporting employment	62
The lifecourse approach	63
A tradition of consensus	65
Democracy and power at the local level	67
Science and social and health research	68
Unionization and the contribution of unions	70
Multipartite governments and the proportional voting system	70
CHAPTER 5. Family and Work-Life Balancing Policies	73
Policy foundations	73
Range and flexibility of measures	75
Policy evaluation	76
Key ideas	81
CHAPTER 6. Policies to Support Housing	83
Key policy principles	83
Housing assistance measures	85
Key ideas	88
CHAPTER 7. Gender Equity Policies	89
The key principles of gender equity policies	89
Key ideas	96
CHAPTER 8. Education Policies	99
The Swedish preschool system	100
Key ideas	107
The Finnish school system	111
Key ideas	115
CHAPTER 9. Policies of Social Inclusion	117
Key policy principles	117
Political action based on an inter-sectoral approach	118
Policies aimed at vulnerable populations	121
Key ideas	130
CHAPTER 10. Sustainable Development at the Local Level	135
The Nordic model of sustainable development	135
The strategies of the Nordic capitals	152
CHAPTER 11. Critical Views on the Nordic Countries’ Policies	159
Conditions favouring the emergence of Nordic social policies	159
The viability of the Nordic model	160
Gaps and unintended effects of certain policies	165
CONCLUSION	169
Bibliography	173

Scandinavian Common Sense

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