Allocating responsibilities. Norwegian elder care between national ambitions and local autonomy

Abstract

This thesis contributes to the debate on the Nordic welfare model by providing an in-depth analysis of the present state of Norwegian elder care services. The analysis concentrates on the two main tensions embedded in current elder care services provision; national ambitions vs. local autonomy, and public vs. individual responsibility. The first article describes present legislation regarding elder care services, the second article describes how past legislation and current institutions contribute in forming present services, while the third article describes how local government plan future elder care services. The investigation provides a basis for assessing the extent to which the Norwegian welfare state and the ideal-type Nordic welfare model correspond. The results suggest the Norwegian welfare state falls somewhat short of the ideal-type characteristics of the Nordic welfare model. Equally important, the ideal-type description of the Nordic welfare model does not capture the importance of local democracy and local autonomy in these countries, and the accompanying tensions between the policy goals of national government and the quest for local democracy.