Watching Bill Maher the other night trying to coax a label other than “Socialist” from Bernie Sanders lead to the Wikipedia article, “Nordic Model.”
The Nordic model (also called Nordic capitalism[1] or Nordic social democracy)[2][3] refers to the economic and social policies common to the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden). This includes a combination of free market capitalism with a comprehensive welfare state and collective bargaining at the national level.[4][5]
Although there are significant differences among the Nordic countries, they all share some common traits. These include support for a "universalist" welfare state aimed specifically at enhancing individual autonomy and promoting social mobility; a corporatist system involving a tripartite arrangement where representatives of labor and employers negotiate wages and labor market policy mediated by the government;[6] and a commitment to widespread private ownership, free markets and free trade.[7]
It’s not Socialism because very little of the means of production are state owned, and certainly isn’t communist as Trump declares. Bernie ought to call himself a Nordic Capitalist. It won’t get my vote but it better describes his politics.
BTW Sweden’s decision not to save SAAB when General Motors went bankrupt despite a long and storied history with many employees in country came from a clear headed attitude that private enterprise is meant to support a welfare state and not vice versa. It’s worthy of admiration from afar by this observer in the land of corporate welfare.
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