|
WORKING GROUPS
OUT OF THE RECESSION WITH EDUCATION?
Sebastian de Toro , Political Advisor at the Swedish Social
Democratic Parliamentary Group
Challenges of expected labour shortage and maintaining the competitiveness of
European countries in the future have emphasised the role of education in
employment policy. At the same time, due to the global recession, Europe faces
alarming unemployment rates that require rapid solutions. What kinds of
education policies are needed to respond to the current situation? How could the
sufficiency of work force and high level vocational qualifications be maintained
in the future? Who should be educated? How and to what? How do we take into
account the immigrants, the elderly and other special groups when the demand for
education has risen?
NEW GROWTH STRATEGIES UNDER A REGIME OF ‘GOOD
CAPITALISM’
Christian Kellermann , Director of the Friedrich
Ebert Foundation for the Nordic Countries
After the crisis social democrats have been discussing the new balance
between the state and the market. But so far no consistent concept has been
provided that would catch all the dimensions of a functioning and sustainable
economic model for the future. How could capitalism be made good in a sense that
it would deliver to all the people in the system? Such a model rests on four
pillars: (1) banks and the financial system, (2) wages and labour markets, (3)
the public sector and (4) “the world” (global governance). What kinds of growth
strategies are possible under a regime of ‘Good Capitalism’?
TAXATION AND INCOME (IN)EQUALITY
Matti Tuomala , Researcher of Economics at the Department of
Economics and Accounting at the University of Tampere
The income inequality in Finland has increased rapidly since the mid-1990`s.
The income tax progressivity has declined during the same period, but to which
extent can this development be explained through changes in tax policy? In
general, what is the role of tax progressivity in combating income inequality
and what can the international comparisons on tax progressivity and income
inequality tell us?
A NEW GREEN DEAL FOR THE FUTURE – WHAT DOES IT STAND
FOR?
Lena Sommestad, CEO of Svensk Fjärrvärme, former
Minister of the Environment of Sweden
The global financial crisis has opened new opportunities for environmentally
sustainable growth and investments to combat climate change. European economies
are now looking to ‘Green Growth’ as a way out of the crisis. What does ‘Green
Growth’ really mean? How can the economic and climate crisis be solved together?
What does it take to make ‘Green Growth’ a reality?
HEALTH IN THE CRISIS
Christophe
Lannelongue , Inspector General at the General Inspectorate of Social
Affairs in France
Recessions have previously had severe health consequences, with e.g. higher
mortality, depression and substance abuse. People are also likely to neglect
health care, especially prevention, and authorities are seeking to cut costs as
revenues decline. What are the impacts of the crisis for the health care systems
in Europe? How can progressive forces prevent the fiscal crisis from becoming a
social and health crisis, with long term repercussions?
. |
