Economic Inequality in the Nordics in Times of Neoliberalism
(2025) In Nordic Studies in a Global Context p.139-155- Abstract
- This chapter explores the interrelationship between neoliberalism and economic inequality through a comparison of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, using Sweden as a main case and the other three major Nordic countries as comparative cases. The argument is that the relationship between neoliberalism and inequality isn’t a one-way street, but rather a question of mutual determination. Neoliberal policies – decreased welfare state generosity, tax cuts and weakening of trade unions – have contributed to the rise in inequality, but much of the rise in inequality depends on economic restructuring, which is tied up with policy changes in complex and mutually interdependent ways. Building on the literature on neoliberalism and research on... (More)
- This chapter explores the interrelationship between neoliberalism and economic inequality through a comparison of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, using Sweden as a main case and the other three major Nordic countries as comparative cases. The argument is that the relationship between neoliberalism and inequality isn’t a one-way street, but rather a question of mutual determination. Neoliberal policies – decreased welfare state generosity, tax cuts and weakening of trade unions – have contributed to the rise in inequality, but much of the rise in inequality depends on economic restructuring, which is tied up with policy changes in complex and mutually interdependent ways. Building on the literature on neoliberalism and research on economic inequality, the chapter proposes an historical approach to the issues, emphasizing the interplay of economics and politics. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- This chapter explores the interrelationship between neoliberalism and economic inequality through a comparison of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, using Sweden as a main case and the other three major Nordic countries as comparative cases. The argument is that the relationship between neoliberalism and inequality isn’t a one-way street, but rather a question of mutual determination. Neoliberal policies – decreased welfare state generosity, tax cuts and weakening of trade unions – have contributed to the rise in inequality, but much of the rise in inequality depends on economic restructuring, which is tied up with policy changes in complex and mutually interdependent ways. Building on the literature on neoliberalism and research on... (More)
- This chapter explores the interrelationship between neoliberalism and economic inequality through a comparison of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, using Sweden as a main case and the other three major Nordic countries as comparative cases. The argument is that the relationship between neoliberalism and inequality isn’t a one-way street, but rather a question of mutual determination. Neoliberal policies – decreased welfare state generosity, tax cuts and weakening of trade unions – have contributed to the rise in inequality, but much of the rise in inequality depends on economic restructuring, which is tied up with policy changes in complex and mutually interdependent ways. Building on the literature on neoliberalism and research on economic inequality, the chapter proposes an historical approach to the issues, emphasizing the interplay of economics and politics. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/419dfe82-6bd2-4c1f-b37f-d5f17e3470b0
- author
- Bengtsson, Erik LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04-08
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Nordic Neoliberalisms: Perspectives on Economic, Social and Cultural Change in the Nordics after 1970
- series title
- Nordic Studies in a Global Context
- editor
- Andersson, Jenny and Howell, Chris
- pages
- 139 - 155
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105002515049
- ISBN
- 9781003563372
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003563372
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 419dfe82-6bd2-4c1f-b37f-d5f17e3470b0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-01 11:32:46
- date last changed
- 2025-05-15 04:01:31
@inbook{419dfe82-6bd2-4c1f-b37f-d5f17e3470b0,
abstract = {{This chapter explores the interrelationship between neoliberalism and economic inequality through a comparison of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, using Sweden as a main case and the other three major Nordic countries as comparative cases. The argument is that the relationship between neoliberalism and inequality isn’t a one-way street, but rather a question of mutual determination. Neoliberal policies – decreased welfare state generosity, tax cuts and weakening of trade unions – have contributed to the rise in inequality, but much of the rise in inequality depends on economic restructuring, which is tied up with policy changes in complex and mutually interdependent ways. Building on the literature on neoliberalism and research on economic inequality, the chapter proposes an historical approach to the issues, emphasizing the interplay of economics and politics.}},
author = {{Bengtsson, Erik}},
booktitle = {{Nordic Neoliberalisms: Perspectives on Economic, Social and Cultural Change in the Nordics after 1970}},
editor = {{Andersson, Jenny and Howell, Chris}},
isbn = {{9781003563372}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
pages = {{139--155}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
series = {{Nordic Studies in a Global Context}},
title = {{Economic Inequality in the Nordics in Times of Neoliberalism}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003563372}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003563372}},
year = {{2025}},
}