06.05.2025

Privatizing Welfare Services – What can we learn from other Nordic countries?

What in the past was often justified by the promise of greater freedom of choice has now given rise to much debate in the Nordic countries. The privatization of welfare services has increased the cost of services and their quality has often been criticized. On 20 May, three experts who have recently published reports in Norway, Sweden and Germany will discuss the topic in Musiikkitalo.

On 20 May, three experts who have recently published reports in Norway, Sweden and Germany will discuss the topic in Musiikkitalo.

Together with the progressive think thanks Arena Ide and Kalevi Sorsa Foundation we are organizing an event in Helsinki to discuss the Nordic experience with the privatization of welfare services. In Sweden, for example, in addition to social and health services, pre-schools, basic education and employment services have also been privatized. Now, Swedish welfare companies are entering the Finnish market, buying up pre-schools and elder care centers across the country. What can be learned from these experiences?

If you’re in Helsinki, you’re welcome to join us in person. Please register via this link by 16 May. Otherwise, you can join our livestream of the event. The link will be provided in advance.

Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025
Time: 17:00-18:45
Location: Ravintola-Klubi, Musiikitalo, Mannerheimintie 13a, Helsinki. The venue is barrier-free.

Program:

16:30-17:00 Coffee and mingle

17:00 Opening

17:05 Presentation of the report: Don’t try this at home: Exporting Sweden’s Neoliberal Welfare Experiment. Lisa Pelling, PhD in political science, head of Arena Idé.  

17:25 Presentation of the Norwegian Governmental Committee report on scaling back commercial providers of public welfare services. Jan-Erik Støstad, head of the committee. 

17:40 How privatization affects employees – experiences from Swedish elder care. Mari Huupponen, care expert, trade union Kommunal. 

17:50 Privatization of welfare services in Finland. TBC. 

18:00–18:45 Panel discussion and Q&A with audience. Mari HuupponenLisa PellingJan-Erik StøstadSamuli Sinisalo (special advisor, Trade Union JHL)

The event will be moderated by policy advisor Josefin Fürst from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Nordic Countries. 

FES Nordic Countries

Office/Postal Address
Barnhusgatan 10
111 23 Stockholm
Sweden

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