Marketization of welfare services in Scandinavia

A review of Swedish and Danish experiences

Authors

  • Ole Helby Petersen Department of Society and Globalisation (ISG), Roskilde University
  • Ulf Hjelmar The Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research (KORA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v17i4.15712

Keywords:

Welfare services, Private operators, Contracting out, Cost effectiveness, Service quality, Scandinavia

Abstract

Scandinavian welfare states are undergoing a gradual transformation towards a more market-based mode of public service delivery. The results of these marketization reforms are, however, insufficiently documented in terms of their consequences for the price and quality of welfare services. This article presents the findings of a systematic review of Danish and Swedish experiences with private provision of welfare services within three areas: home care for the elderly, provision of child care, and the operation of nursing homes. The research shows that there is no general evidence in support of improved cost effectiveness or enhanced service quality within these three welfare areas. A part of the reason for this is that many studies are characterized by lack of data and insufficient methodological designs. The article concludes that more and better studies are needed in order to broaden the evidence base and inform future policy-making on marketization in general and within the welfare areas in particular.

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Author Biographies

Ole Helby Petersen, Department of Society and Globalisation (ISG), Roskilde University

Ole Helby Petersen, PhD., Associate professor, Department of Society and Globalisation (ISG), Roskilde University, Denmark. His research focuses on the interplay between the public and private sectors with a special focus on experiences with contracting out, competitive tendering, public- private partnerships, free choice reforms and innovation partnerships.

Ulf Hjelmar, The Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research (KORA)

Ulf Hjelmar, PhD., Research programme director, The Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research (KORA). He specialises in evaluation and quality development within the public sector. He has performed a large number of such evaluations, including evaluations of effects of investments in care of the elderly, daycare and healthcare.

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Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

Petersen, O. H., & Hjelmar, U. (2013). Marketization of welfare services in Scandinavia: A review of Swedish and Danish experiences. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 17(4), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v17i4.15712

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2013)

Section

Original Articles

License

Creative Commons License

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