COMMENTS: Development of inequality according to some

social indicators from 1990’s up today Inequality and the Nordic Welfare Model –seminar

7th November 2011, Helsinki

SUSAN KUIVALAINEN

08/11/2011 1

THL 2

Finnish welfare state – a success story?

• YES

– According to international rankings

– Particularly SO from a longer time perspective

– Globally YES

Income inequalities mid 1980 to late 2000s

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OECD 2011

THL 4

Our problem: Increasing disparities since the Great Depression of 1990’ies

• NOT ONLY OUR PROBLEM,

it is problem for many affluent countries

FINLAND IN NORDIC COMPARISON

• SOME HESITATION that Finland is the lowest performer among the Nordic countries regarding equity

– Depends on indicator

• Other Nordic countries have not faced similar negative development in equity and social problems as Finland – WHY?

– Need research

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Index of:

• Life expectancy

• Math & Literacy

• Infant mortality

• Homicides

• Imprisonment

• Teenage births

• Trust

• Obesity

• Mental illness – incl.

drug & alcohol

addiction

• Social mobility

Health and Social Problems are Worse in More Unequal Countries

Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

Child Well-being is Better in More Equal Rich Countries

Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

Adequacy of social assistance

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Relative poverty among social assistance recipients

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Kuivalainen & Nelson:

Eroding minimum

income?

FINLAND bad

• Employment

– Active labour market policy, also social security

• Violence

– Is it just GENES?

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• Inequality matters: strong evidence that inequalities are associated with many shortages in well-being

• HOWEVER MECHANISMS are blurry

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Life expectancy in the Nordic countries 2001-2010, females Source: Eurostat 2011

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Live births per 1000 15-19 years old women in the Nordic countries 2000-2008 Source: Nososco 2011

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• WE NEED RESEARCH national and comparative, particularly cross-Nordic comparisons

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Thank You!

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