The Media Welfare State: Nordic Media in the Digital Era comprehensively addresses the central dynamics of the digitalization of the media industry in the Nordic countries—Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland—and the ways media organizations there are transforming to address the new digital environment. Taking a comparative approach, the authors provide an overview of media institutions, content, use, and policy throughout the region, focusing on the impact of information and communication technology/internet and digitalization on the Nordic media sector. Illustrating the shifting media landscape the authors draw on a wide range of cases, including developments in the press, television, the public service media institutions, and telecommunication.

Even small increases in a country's growth rate can result in large changes in living standards over just one generation. This key insight, which often seems to be forgotten by policymakers, is an important reason why the field of economic growth continues to be a large research field. This report provides an overview of the development of labor productivity in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) since the early 1980s. It also examines if data are consistent with predictions of traditional theories of growth. The analysis shows, for example, that the real wage per employee is positively related to the level of labor productivity - a finding suggesting that changes in relative standards of living have been driven by parallel changes in relative productivity.

Sweden is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. Its capital and largest city is Stockholm. Sweden has a population of approximately 10 million people, and its official language is Swedish. The country is known for its high standard of living, social welfare system, and progressive values. Sweden is recognized as being one of the most equal societies globally, with a strong emphasis on gender equality and LGBT rights. The Swedish economy is primarily dependent on exports, and its industries include automotive, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and life sciences. Sweden is also famous for its cultural and natural attractions, including historic architecture, museums, and parks. Sweden has a rich cultural heritage that dates back to prehistoric times. The Viking Age, which lasted from the 8th to the 11th century, greatly influenced the country's culture and identity. Sweden became a sovereign state in the 16th century and enjoyed a period of dominance in the Baltic region. In the 20th century, Sweden became a modern welfare state with a highly developed healthcare and education system. Sweden is also famous for its cuisine, including traditional dishes like meatballs, herring, and potatoes, as well as modern cuisine influenced by international trends. Overall, Sweden is a prosperous, innovative, and culturally diverse country that has made significant contributions to the world.

The Nordic welfare states have found themselves in the firing line of post-industrial developments, resulting in fundamental changes and new social needs to attend to. This book explores responses to changing social risks across areas such as structural unemployment, entrepreneurship, immigration, single parenthood, education and health.

Sweden has long been viewed as epitomizing a particular approach to economic and social policy. To its advocates, the Swedish welfare state builds on a strong social consensus favoring extensive state intervention to ensure a high quality of life for all Swedes. To its critics, the Swedish system is marked by excessive government intervention and attendant inefficiencies. These contrasting views are captured in imagery used by Prime Minister Göran Persson: "Think of a bumblebee. With its overly heavy body and little wings, supposedly it should not be able to fly--but it does." The Swedish welfare state is the bumblebee that has managed to fly. This book draws on many years of IMF surveillance and policy advice to explain how it has done so, to assess the challenges that the Swedish model faces in the new century, to propose a strategy for dealing with those challenges, and to draw lessons for the many other countries that face similar challenges from globalization and demographics.

The OECD Digital Economy Outlook examines and documents the evolutions and emerging opportunities and challenges in the digital economy. It highlights how OECD countries and partner economies are taking advantage of ICTs and the Internet to meet their public policy objectives.