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This book presents twenty-three in-depth case studies of successful public policies and programs in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland. Each chapter tells the story of the policy's origins, aims, design, decision-making, and implementation processes, and assesses in which respects - programmatically, process-wise, politically, and over time - and to what extent it can be considered to have been successful. It also points towards the driving forces of success, and the challenges that have had to be overcome to achieve it. Combined, the chapters provide a resource for researchers, educators, and students of public policy both within and beyond the Nordic region.
Caroline de la Porte, Professor of European and Comparative Social Policy, Copenhagen Business School, Guðný Björk Eydal, Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Iceland, Jaakko Kauko, Professor of Education Policy, Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, Daniel Nohrstedt, Professor of Political Science, Department of Government at Uppsala University, Paul 't Hart, Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University, Bent Sofus Tranøy, Professor of Political Science, School of Economics, Innovation and Technology, Kristiania University College
Caroline de la Porte is Professor of European and Comparative Social Policy at Copenhagen Business School. She is a leading scholar in the Europeanization of welfare states. She is particularly interested in why, how, and with which effects EU policy and law influences welfare state reform in member states. In recent years, her work has also focused on Nordic public policies, especially in the area of family policy.
Guðný Björk Eydal is Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Iceland. Her main research field is social, family, and child-care policies in the Nordic countries. Currently, Eydal is directing a long-term research project on the outcome of the paid parental leave legislation in Iceland. She has also been directing a Nordic research project in the field of disaster studies, 'The Nordic Welfare Watch in Response to Changes'.
Daniel Nohrstedt is Professor of Political Science at the Department of Government at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he also serves as research coordinator in the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS). His research interests include policy processes in comparative perspective, policy-making after extreme events, and collaborative governance.
Jaakko Kauko is Professor of Education Policy at the Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, where he co-leads the research group EduKnow (Knowledge, Power, and Politics in Education). His research focuses on the fields of education policy and comparative education. He is currently leading the Academy of Finland-funded project 'Transnational Knowledge Networks in Higher Education Policymaking'.
Paul 't Hart is Professor of Public Administration at Utrecht University. His research interests include positive public administration, political and public service leadership, crisis management, and group dynamics in government.
Bent Sofus Tranøy is Professor of Political Science at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences and at Kristiania University College. He has published in the fields of comparative and international political economy, public policy, organization theory, qualitative methods, and history of science. He was previously employed as a post doc and Associate Professor at the University of Oslo.
