Since the close of WWII, Norwegian politicians have worked to strike a balance between considerations relating to economic growth and efforts to achieve social equality. A phase of rapid expansion of the public sector lasting from 1945-71 has been followed by a long period of internationalization and market adaptation.
Two priorities in particular are reflected in post-war Norwegian public policy: increased wealth and equitable distribution. Until 1971, the State played a key role in planning the economy. The people were clearly in favour of enhanced public support, security, service and controls, and these were provided. The introduction of the Norwegian National Insurance (1967) and the expansion of major areas of the educational and the health-care sectors were all initiated as part of the large-scale “public revolution”. During this period, public expenditures increased from about one third to one half of the gross domestic product, an outlay that has subsequently been maintained. Since the 1970s, there has been increased focus on a market framework, leading to decentralization of public tasks to the local level or to independent institutions such as Telenor (Norwegian telecoms supplier).
The achievement of equitable distribution has both social and geographic components. The universal welfare state is designed to prevent suffering and poverty. Reasonably priced public education allows most people to improve their material status. The redistribution of goods between the various regions and industries has limited some of the depopulation of the outlying areas in the north, northwest and inner eastern Norway. Urbanization is on the rise, but has been less in Norway than in other Western countries. Furthermore, urbanization has occurred around much smaller towns and villages than in other countries.
Political parties
Norway has a multi-dimensional party system. The most important of these is the left-right dimension, where the parties are distributed along an axis according to their concern with equitable distribution and public planning and control. To the left are the socialist parties, such as the Social Left Party and the Labour Party. Furthest to the right are the Party of Progress and the Conservative Party. The Centre Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Liberal Party are found in the middle of the left-right axis.
Other dimensions reflected in the Norwegian political party system include the moral-religious axis for Christian parties, a geographical axis for regional policy issues and a growth-protection axis for environmental values. Although voter mobility has increased somewhat since the 1970s, voter behaviour normally remains quite stable, also over generations.
The political parties in Norway
Det norske Arbeiderparti Labour Party
Det Liberale Folkepartiet New Liberal Party
Det politiske parti Political Party
Fedrelandspartiet Fatherland Party
Fremskrittspartiet Progress Party
Fylkeslistene for Miljø og Solidaritet County Lists for the Environment and Solidarity
Høyre Conservative Party
Kristelig Folkeparti Christian Democratic Party
Kristent Konservativt Parti Christian Conservative Party
Kristent Samlingsparti Christian Coalition Party
Kystpartiet Coastal Party
Miljøpartiet De Grønne The Green Party
NasjonalAlliansen National Alliance
Naturlovpartiet Natural Law Party
Norges Kommunistiske Parti Communist Party
Pensjonistpartiet Pensioners' Party
Rød Valgallianse Red Electoral Alliance
Sámeálbmot Belodat/Samefolkets Parti
Sami People's Party
Samfunnspartiet Society Party
Senterpartiet Centre Party
Sosialdemokratene Social Democrats
Sosialistisk Venstreparti Socialist Left Party
Tverrpolitisk Kyst- og distriktsparti
Non-Partisan Coastal and Rural District Party
Venstre Liberal Party
Edited from Aschehoug and Gyldendal's Norwegian Encyclopedia