A series of essays that look examines how Australia could improve its current policy settings by following the example of progressive Nordic countries. What can Australia learn from Nordic countries Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland? Quite a lot, according to editors Andrew Scott and Rod Campbell. Marshalling an array of Australian and Nordic writers and thinkers, The Nordic Edge examines the most pressing policy questions confronting Australia today. There is much received economic wisdom that Australians swallow without demur. Politicians especially like to tell us that low taxes equal a strong economy, but the authors demonstrate that high taxing Nordic countries have strong economies and their populations experience high levels of well-being. Norway's sovereign wealth fund is a particular cause for envy, having generated an enormous national nest egg by investing ethically and with great transparency. Sweden leads the way in making foreign policy from a feminist perspective, calling for gender equity and combating violence against women, with research showing that more women involved in peace processes leads to more positive outcomes. In another essay concentrating on gendered accounting (considering how policy impacts women) it is shown that more equal societies have better economies and health outcomes. Other essays concentrate on global warming, media and the prison system. Progressives will shake their heads that we don't have these policies in place already; sceptics may find some of the research presented here nudges their thinking. An urgently needed re-evaluation of Australia's policy direction that deserves a broad audience. The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia, edited by Andrew Scott and Rod Campbell. Published by Melbourne University Press. $32.99 Review by Chris Saliba First published at Books + Publishing. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorNorth Melbourne Books Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
|