Student Financing for Social Equity in Norway, 1947-2020

Abstract

This chapter traces the development of Norway’s higher education student financing policy programme from its genesis in 1945, through transformations including the incorporation of non-repayable grants in the late 1950s, the conversion from needs-based to universal eligibility for support around 1970 and the introduction of progression-dependent grants in the 2000s. With the student financing programme, Norway’s political leaders have sought to tackle multiple challenges, including inequalities between the rich and the poor, the urban and the rural population, and men and women. The chapter argues the programme is a success, although not a success any of the 22 governments that have come and gone since 1945 can claim for themselves. Success was enabled by governments repeatedly taking the long view and seeking political compromise solutions rather than trying to build ideological, party-political, prestige projects. As a result, governments have, in the main, incrementally changed the programme and avoided reversing past governments’ reforms. This rationalistic approach to policymaking was assisted by a long list of ad hoc advisory committees consisting of experts and interested parties providing policy proposals. The policy story, therefore, has strong elements of corporatism and evidence-based policymaking.

Student Financing for Social Equity in Norway, 1947-2020