Lecture 14

Post-war Scandinavia: Growth, consensus and crisis

1. Growth and consensus 1945-70

  1. (a) Economic: strong, stable growth; national variations; role of government policy.
  1. (b) Political: Consensus; social democrats dominant. Finland: more polarised; role of president (Paasikivi 1946-56, Kekkonen 1956-81).

(c) Problems: Inflation; high taxation; insistence on conformity (see R. Huntford, The New Totalitarians).

2. The crisis of the 'Scandinavian model'? 1970-99

  1. (a) 1970s:
  1. (b) 1980s - 90s: