The Nordic model attracts attention in a mixture of applause and disbelief. Among its merits
but also a precondition to its future survival is its capacity to modify and adapt to changing
circumstances. This book scrutinizes Nordic - in particular Norwegian - working life and
welfare states from the perspective of institutional change. The analyses range from property
rights boardroom politics and wage formation to old-age pensions care work and childcare
policies. What emerges is a picture of societies characterized by ongoing often incremental
social and political reform processes. Tripartite relations of coordination and negotiation in
the labor market and beyond give shape to power relations and political processes in
particular ways. The close connections between labour market welfare state family and gender
policies work to create institutional bundles - in an even stronger way than assumed in the
Varieties of Capitalism literature.The book is written for students and scholars with an
interest in Nordic societies in corporatism and political processes as well as readers
interested in theoretical debate on varieties of capitalism and institutional change.
