Fudan Nordic Lecture Series No.10

Title: 

A Nordic Model? Long-term Fiscal Paths Towards Welfare States

Speaker: 

Prof. Jari Eloranta, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki (UoH FSS)

Host: 

Prof. Yijia Jing, Fudan IGPP

Discussant: 

Prof. Søren Harnow Klausen, University of Southern Denmark

Time: 

12:30-14:00, Oct. 21, Tuesday, 2025

Venue: 

Room 805E, 8th Floor, West Sub-building of Guanghua Towers

https://www.wjx.cn/vm/tbmk4ix.aspx#

The Speaker：

Jari Eloranta is a Professor of Economic History at the University of Helsinki. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2002 from the European University Institute. He has held academic positions in the UK, USA, and Europe. He has published broadly on the topics of economic history of the Nordic countries, Nordic historical societal development patterns, economics and economic history of conflicts, and the history of Nordic innovations. His most recent book (May 2025) is the Routledge Economic History of War. He is currently also a Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Abstract:

The main goal in this presentation is to examine the co-evolution of economic, political, and fiscal factors among the Nordic societies in the long run by making use of recent longitudinal data sets. By doing so, we can map out some key patterns that characterized the shift toward more peaceful and well-functioning welfare societies. The paths toward welfare states differed among the Nordic countries, and some of the pivotal forces and periods were connected to crises. Moreover, most of the convergence toward social peace in the Nordic region occurred during the era of fast economic growth and catch-up with the leading Western economies, as well as during the development of welfare states and democratization. Additionally, some of the key social transformations were connected to industrialization and global conflicts and their aftermath. Finally, the paths and timing of the transitions into these welfare states, however, differed.