Nordic Social Attitudes in a European Perspective

Edited by Heikki Ervasti, Professor of Social Policy, University of Turku, Finland, Torben Fridberg, Senior Researcher, SFI – The Danish National Centre for Social Research, Denmark, Mikael Hjerm, Associate Professor of Sociology, Umeå University, Sweden and Kristen Ringdal, Professor of Sociology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

• Contents:Foreword Roger Jowell1. The Nordic ModelHeikki Ervasti, Torben Fridberg, Mikael Hjerm, Olli Kangas and Kristen Ringdal2. The Welfare State, Poverty and Social ExclusionTorben Fridberg and Olli Kangas3. Health and HappinessTerje Andreas Eikemo, Arne Mastekaasa and Kristen Ringdal4. Social CapitalTorben Fridberg and Olli Kangas5. Who Should Decide? A Comparative Analysis of Multilevel Governance in EuropeLinda Berg and Mikael Hjerm6. Political ActivismFrode Berglund, Øyvin Kleven and Kristen Ringdal7. Trust in Political InstitutionsOla Listhaug and Kristen Ringdal8. Disagreement About the Division of Work Among Couples in Europe: The Role of Gender Ideology and Labour InvolvementMikael Nordenmark9. Non-standard Employment and Job QualityHeikki Ervasti10. Attitudes Towards ImmigrantsHeikki Ervasti, Torben Fridberg and Mikael Hjerm11. Economic MoralityKristen Ringdal12. The Meaning and Implications of Religiosity Heikki Ervasti13. Conclusion: Nordic Uniqueness, Reality or Myth?Heikki Ervasti, Torben Fridberg, Mikael Hjerm and Kristen RingdalAppendix: Data Source and Statistical MethodsMikael Hjerm and Kristen RingdalIndex

'For outsiders, the popularity and social sustainability of the extensive scope of Nordic welfare states, such as the strong role of the state and high levels of taxation, remains something of a mystery. Making use of recent international survey data, this important book goes some way towards solving this mystery. It underlines the remarkable success of Nordic welfare institutions which help to maintain not only low rates of poverty and inequality, but high levels of well-being, trust, social capital and political participation.'