Digitalization, Immigration and the Welfare State

Mårten Blix, Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Sweden

• Contents: Preface 1. A Perfect Storm 2. The Welfare State in Transition 3. The Labor Market in Transition 4. Digitalization Changing the Economy and the Labor Market 5. Fiscal Pressures from Digitalization and Immigration 6. Immigration, Inequality and Skills in the Digital Economy 7. Future Challenges for the Welfare State Index

'The famous Swedish Model of the welfare state is at a turning point as the pressures of technological change, income inequality and high levels of immigration meet the constraints of the country's inflexible labour and housing markets. Marten Blix argues in this incisive book that with its sound public finances and high levels of trust, Sweden is well placed to respond to the pressures, and he describes a route through these challenges; but it will require some profound institutional changes. The Swedish Model of the future will have to look very different if it is to succeed.'--Diane Coyle, University of Manchester, UK'Using the economic and social laboratory of Sweden, Mårten Blix provides a fascinating window into the future of the welfare state with the threats and opportunities from a massive increase in immigration and rapid digitilisation of the economy. The Swedish Model's core features of collective bargaining, broad unionisation and a strong fiscal base are eroding, increasing inequality and challenging the legitimacy of the political consensus to date. His interesting observations and balanced analysis of the growing importance of platform-based jobs and life-long learning have implications much beyond Sweden.'--Erik Berglöf, London School of Economics, UK'While the treatment of a Citizen's Income is inadequate, this is a most useful book and particularly useful is its focus on Sweden.'--Citizen's Income