The provision of free childcare provides the rarest of economic policy opportunities – it’s both an effective form of fiscal stimulus in the short term and has the capacity to boost the long-term participation rate and, in turn, the long-run rate of economic growth.

The Danish Government has refused Covid-19 bailout money to companies registered in tax havens. This has inspired some countries to adopt similar restrictions, but Australia is yet to follow suit.

Nordic countries have incarceration rates that are a fraction of Australia’s. Their systems emphasise non-custodial alternatives to imprisonment and promote prisoners’ access to education. This has helped Nordic prisons respond to Covid-19.

“The organised tripartite co-operation and universal welfare states of the Nordic countries have encouraged an immediate, united societal response to this major health and economic crisis.”
- Andrew Scott, Convenor, Nordic Policy Centre

This catalogue details the Nordic states’ economic responses to assist workers during the Covid-19 crisis. It builds on the international catalogue of economic responses compiled by the Centre for Future Work. it is non-exhaustive and will be updated with new developments.

The following statement can be attributed to Professor Andrew Scott, Convenor of The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre:

The International Trade Union Confederation has compiled a list of the countries which have responded best on behalf of working people to the Coronavirus pandemic which has gripped the globe. The governments of the countries which have made it onto this list have all acted to assure: paid sick leave; wage support; income support for freelance, self-employed and gig economy workers; and free healthcare.

Steel production is one of the most energy-intensive industries in the world.

Finland’s library system is second to none. Finnish libraries are an important part of civic culture, and are the second highest rated public service in the country after drinking water.[i]

New research presented in Geelong today looks at how Denmark leads the way in industrial transition and opportunities for Australia.

Danish wind energy company Vestas is operating at the old Ford car factory site in Geelong, Victoria. This represents not just a change of industry but an opportunity to improve the way Australian regions manage industrial transition.

This briefing note was presented at The Australia Institute Nordic Policy Centre roundtable on Paid Parental Leave, 26 August 2019, and covers the impact of the Fathers' quote of paid parental leave in Iceland over the past 19 years.

The Briefing note, by Icelandic academic, Ásdís Aðalbjörg Arnalds, in cooperation with Professor Guðný Björk Eydal and Associate Professor Ingólfur V. Gíslason, can be found here.

The Finnish approach to education recognises that many young people have vocational aptitudes that are not best fostered in a standard academic environment. Australia can learn from Finland’s attainment of excellence with equity in its post-school educational institutions.