Between lockdown and calm down. Comparing the COVID-19 responses of Norway and Sweden. Issue 2 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Askim, Jostein; Bergström, Tomas
• Is Part Of: Local government studies. Volume 48:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- sweden -- norway -- autonomy -- expertise -- multiple streams -- intergovernmental relations -- local governments; Local government -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Local government -- Periodicals; 352.042
• DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2021.1964477
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-3930

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article studies the difference in the government response to COVID-19 in Norway and Sweden drawing upon theories of agenda setting, crisis management and multi-level governance. Despite having virtually identical systems of government and, initially, facing similar infection threats, Sweden opted for far less strict countermeasures than Norway. While Norway's government response was similar to that of many European countries, Sweden received international attention for choosing befuddlingly soft measures, mostly recommendations and guidelines. This divergence is discussed vis-à-vis the multiple streams lens of agenda setting theory, highlighting differences in institutional and organisational legacies (e.g., the autonomy of government agencies) and intergovernmental relations (e.g., whether infectious disease expertise and authority is located at the local level).