The Nordics
Countriesregion
Weak as a business literature, but not empty. The comparative economics of the model is covered properly, and there is a sceptical counter-literature. The specific investable stories, the Swedish 1992 bank resolution, the Norwegian oil fund, the Danish pension system, still live mostly in academic papers and official reports.
8 books
Start here
- The Almost Nearly Perfect PeopleMichael Booth, 2014
- The Nordic Model: Scandinavia since 1945Mary Hilson, 2008
- The Nordic Model: Embracing Globalization and Sharing RisksTorben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmstrom, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Soderstrom, Juhana Vartiainen, 2007
Books 8
Torben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmstrom, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Soderstrom, Juhana Vartiainen · 2007 · Economists' report on how small open economies combine flexibility with heavy taxation.
Mary Hilson · 2008 · Historian's account of what the model actually is and where it diverges.
Gordon L. Clark, Adam D. Dixon, Ashby H. B. Monk · 2013 · The Norwegian fund's governance model, which is the region's main export to finance.
Peer Hull Kristensen, Kari Lilja · 2011 · Firm-level study of how Nordic companies reorganised for global production.
Michael Booth · 2014 · Journalistic tour, but honest about household debt, tax wedges and the model's strains.
Nima Sanandaji · 2015 · The sceptical case: prosperity preceded the welfare state, not the reverse.
Nima Sanandaji · 2016 · Longer version of the same argument, aimed at American admirers of the model.
George Lakey · 2016 · Advocacy rather than analysis; useful only for the labour-market and flexicurity mechanics.