When inclusive measures expose cracks: The Nordic Social Protection in times of crisis

In a new Journal of European Social Policy blog Trine P. Larsen and Anna Ilsøe takes a closer look at the more than 130 ad hoc relief packages and amendments initiated by the Nordic governments during the Corona-crisis,

The Nordic economies were – similar to the rest of Europe – hit hard by the Corona pandemic with historical drops in GDP and rising unemployment in the first two quarters of 2020. Non-standard workers were particularly hard hit. Many worked in the most crisis-ridden sectors such as tourism, hotel and restaurant. To help companies and workers, including non-standard workers, to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, the Nordic governments launched more than 130 ad hoc relief packages and amendments in their social protection schemes, often in close collaboration with social partners and with broad support of other political parties. However, certain groups, notably temporary employed, entrepreneurs, freelancers and part-time workers with few hours continued to fall through the cracks in the system despite the ongoing adjustments of the unprecedented policy responses, and more so in some Nordic countries than others.

Read the full blog 'When inclusive measures expose cracks: The Nordic Social Protection in times of crisis' by Trine P. Larsen and Anna Ilsøe in The Official Blog of the Journal of European Social Policy.