Project description
The project examines, in particular, the role played by the political parties during the early phase and establishment of the welfare state. Who opposed the introduction of the first welfare schemes, who promoted them, and who reluctantly accepted such schemes without proposing them themselves? Once the schemes were established, to what extent did the parties use them strategically to place their own politicians in the administration?
The project will also examine key differences between the parties, for example between socialist parties such as the Labour Party and conservative parties. In addition, it will analyse the extent to which the parties competed on the basis of principles and programmes, rather than through personality-based political competition.
An innovative research approach makes it possible to go further than previous research:
In many Norwegian local elections, the parties used to end up with an equal number of seats. In such cases, the mayor was chosen by drawing lots – in other words, by tossing a coin. This random outcome serves as a ‘natural experiment’.
Since the mayor has a casting vote in the event of a tie, this means that whoever secures the mayor’s position also gains power in the municipality. In this way, we can compare municipalities where different parties came to power purely by chance, to determine how party affiliation influenced the development of taxes, welfare measures and other important decisions.
Could it be that the draw had a decisive influence on how society has developed up to the present day?
Sheds light on current debates about the welfare state
Combined with the aim of collecting comprehensive historical microdata (tax assessment information, political appointments, etc.) and, not least, municipal data (municipal social security and tax records), the project will be able to provide a much more precise picture of what different parties do when they come to power.
By understanding how party politics shaped the welfare state historically, we gain perspectives that can shed light on current debates about the welfare state.
The project’s findings can tell us whether – and how – different political orientations have led to different welfare systems. More specifically, they can shed light on the parties’ role in shaping the internationally coveted Nordic welfare model.
This knowledge better equips us to discuss how current and future political choices may influence the further development of the welfare state.
