How the Nordic approach can shape Australia's future for better.
Climate and energy. Work/life balance. Mining taxes. Progress on policy issues like these is essential, and yet they have become subject to the most rancorous partisanship, the precipitation of culture wars, and have brought down governments. It is impossible to make any progress without major political upheaval
Or so it seems in Australia. Yet Nordic countries have taken a 'ja, we can' approach to these and other issues such as independent foreign policy, prison reform, gender equality, retraining for workforce participation and media diversity. Their experience shows that progress in these areas is not only possible, but can be achieved while increasing prosperity and community wellbeing.
The Nordic Edge explores policies adopted by Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland and the exciting possibilities they provide to overcome Australia's seemingly intractable problems. Leading Australian and Nordic thinkers and policy practitioners, including Sweden's recent Foreign Minister, outline proven approaches to…
Climate and energy. Work/life balance. Mining taxes. Progress on policy issues like these is essential, and yet they have become subject to the most rancorous partisanship, the precipitation of culture wars, and have brought down governments. It is impossible to make any progress without major political upheaval.
Or so it seems in Australia. Yet Nordic countries have taken a 'ja, we can' approach to these and other issues such as independent foreign policy, prison reform, gender equality, retraining for workforce participation and media diversity. Their experience shows that progress in these areas is not only possible, but can be achieved while increasing prosperity and community wellbeing.
The Nordic Edge explores policies adopted by Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland and the exciting possibilities they provide to overcome Australia's seemingly intractable problems. Leading Australian and Nordic thinkers and policy practitioners, including Sweden's recent Foreign Minister, outline proven approaches to help Australia become a fairer, happier, wealthier and more environmentally responsible country. Re-enter Australia's policy debates with optimism, new ideas and a Nordic edge.
Contributors: Professor Andrew Scott; Rod Campbell; Dr Richard Denniss; Matt Grudnoff; Tom Swann; former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström; Dr Lenita Freidenvall; Professor Marian Sawer; James Fleming; Richie Merzian; Dan Cass; Audrey Quicke; Ebony Bennett; Dr Maria Rae; and Associate Professor Anna Eriksson, with a foreword by Ben Oquist.
Contributor Margot Wallström, former foreign minister of Sweden, discusses her chapter on Feminist Foreign Policy
Feminist Foreign Policy with Margot Wallström, former foreign minister of Sweden
The Nordic Edge: Media Diversity
Andrew Scott
Dr Andrew Scott is Professor of Politics and Policy at Deakin University, Inaugural Convenor of The Australia Institute Nordic Policy Centre and author of five books including Northern Lights: The Positive Policy Example of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway (Monash University Publishing, 2014).
Rod Campbell is the Research Director at The Australia Institute. An economist and geographer by training, Rod’s research focuses on mining, energy, economic modelling and the Murray Darling Basin.
Democracy Sausage: The Nordic Edge with Andrew Scott
On this episode of Democracy Sausage, academic and author Andrew Scott joins us to discuss the effective, progressive social and economic policies of the Nordic countries and how they might work in Australia.Australian policymakers tend to look to the United States and the United Kingdom as examples, but should they be looking further afield? Europe’s Nordic countries perform strongly on a wide range of social and economic indicators and Andrew Scott, Professor of Politics and Policy at Deakin University and co-editor of The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia, says they might hold more lessons for Australian policymakers than many previously thought.
Australia should look to the Nordics for policy tips
As Australia starts to peek at a future beyond COVID-19, where should we look for inspiration on how to take our country, community and politics in a better direction?
Scott Morrison’s inspiration for changes to Australia’s corporate tax system was the United States under Donald Trump.
Education Minister Alan Tudge says we should be more like the United Kingdom because of how they cut (yes cut!) education spending.
Here’s an idea – let’s look less at countries where you fancy your post-politics ambassadorships and more at countries that consistently produce desirable social outcomes. Shouldn’t Australia instead look to countries such as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland for policy and political tips?
The Nordic countries hold a fascination for Australians looking for models of good public policy. Each of them — Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland — is prosperous, each has a firmly embedded social security system, and each offers its citizens well-funded, well-functioning public services.
Nordic Policies: Geraldine Doogue in conversation wth Andrew Scott
A new book argues that on a range of policy fronts, Australia could think more boldly and adopt some of the admired social, environmental and tax policies of the Nordic countries.
Guests:
Andrew Scott, co-editor with Rod Campbell of ‘The Nordic Edge: Policy possibilities for Australia’ (MUP)
Professor of politics and policy at Deakin University
Convenor of the Australia Institute Nordic Policy Centre