111
Åbo Akademi University 2014/2015
VASA CAMPUS
of living and equality with economic efficiency. What has
made this possible, and what does the future hold for this
model? The aim of the course is to deconstruct the concept
of the Nordic welfare model by describing common traits of
the welfare systems in Nordic countries as well as displaying
differences between them. The historical and political driving
forces behind themodel(s) are also important to understand,
especially as the welfare program that these models entail
are much influenced by so-called class alliances between
the labour movement and the peasantry. It is also essential
to understand the economic and institutional perspectives
of the model; its financing structure, the strong accentua-
tion of high labour market participation and its distributive
effects. Finally, the course assesses themain achievements of
the model and discusses the challenges and problems that
the Nordic model of welfare faces in a time of globalisation,
Europeanization and graying of populations.
Learning objectives:
To be able to describe the main characteristics of the welfare
system in Nordic countries as well as the central differences
between them. To understand the historical, political, social
and economic factors that have shaped these systems and
that have an effect on their performance today. To be able
to critically assess the challenges that the system faces today
and to discuss alternative policy solutions in relation to these
challenges.
Teaching forms: Lectures 20 h, literature studies, written
assignment
Literature:
a) Einhorn, E. & Logue, J. (2003). Modern Welfare States:
Scandinavian Politics and Policy in the Global Age. Westport:
Praeger.
b) Kangas, O. & Palme, J. (eds.) Social Policy and Economic
Development in theNordic Countries. London: Palgrave, 2006.
c) Lister, R. (2009). A Nordic Nirvana? Gender, Citizenship,
and Social Justice in the Nordic Welfare States. Social Politics,
Summer 2009, 242-278.
Migration and ethnic relations
5 credits
Intermediate/advanced level
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Jan Saarela
The course gives an overview to the study on migration and
ethnic group relations from a social science perspective. Its
main objectives are to familiarize students with central is-
sues, concepts, theories, and research findings on aspects
of migration, immigrant integration, ethnic group relations,
and related phenomena. It offers an overview of the pos-
sibilities for conducting research within this broad and mul-
tidisciplinary area from the standpoint of empirical research.
One primary purpose is to illustrate how Finnish and Nordic
research findings can be understood in a broader context. The
intended learning outcome is to provide students with a basic
toolbox for understanding determinants and consequences
of migration, how immigrants integrate, and the interrela-
tion between ethnic groups. The course serves to enlighten
the students about the possibilities for proceeding with own
research within the field. The course consists of lectures inte-
grated with group discussions. Participants will be examined
on the basis of lecture participation, lecture diaries, and an
essay assignment.
The lectures are based upon the following literature:
Rooth, D.-O. & Saarela, J. (2007a). Native Language and Im-
migrant Labour Market Outcomes: An Alternative Approach
to Measuring the Returns for Language Skills. Journal of
International Migration and Integration, 8, 207-221.
Rooth, D.-O. & Saarela, J. (2007b). Selection in Migration and
Return Migration: Evidence fromMicro Data. Economics Let-
ters, 94, 90-95.
Saarela, J. & Finnäs, F. (2006). Adjustment Failures in an Immi-
grant Population: Finns in Sweden. Social Indicators Research,
82, 545-563.
Saarela, J. & Finnäs, F.(2008). Cross-country Employment
Propensity of FinnishMigrants: Evidence fromLinked Register
Data. Migration Letters, 5, 63-77.
Saarela, J. & Finnäs, F. (2009). Return Migrant Status and
Employment in Finland. International Journal of Manpower,
30, 489-506.
Saarela, J. & Finnäs, F. (2013). Ethnic Affiliation of Children and
the Risk of Union Dissolution. Journal of Comparative Family
Studies, 44, 609-621.
Saarela, J. & Finnäs, F. (2014). Transitions within and from
Ethno-linguistically Mixed and Endogamous First Unions in
Finland. Acta Sociologica, 57, forthcoming.
Saarela, J. & Rooth, D.-O. (2006). How Integrated are Finns in
the Swedish Labour Market? Outcomes of Free Labour Mobil-
ity. International Migration, 44, 119-152.
Saarela, J. & Rooth, D.-O. (2012). Uncertainty and International
Return Migration: Some Evidence from Linked Register Data.
Applied Economics Letters, 19, 1893-1897.
Comparative welfare state analysis
5 credits
Intermediate/advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer: Mikael Nygård, PhD, Reader (docent) in social policy.
Objectives and contents:
The course aims at introducing the student to the objectives
and goals of comparative welfare state analysis, and notably
the study of welfare state reforms.
Learning objectives:
After having completed the course, the student a) can identify
goals, methods, straits and problems within comparative
welfare state research, b) distinguish between different theo-
retical understandings of welfare state change, c) is familiar
with different data sets, methodological approaches as well
as caveats in comparative analysis, and d) can perform simple
comparative analyses of welfare state analysis (either small-N
or large-N studies).
Teaching forms: Lectures 20 h, exercises 10 h, literature stud-
ies, written assignment.
Literature:
a) Clasen, J and Siegel, N. (eds.) Investigating welfare state
change. Edward Elgar. 2007.
b) Van Vliet, O. P (2011). Convergence and Europeanisation.
The Political Economy of Social and Labour Market Policies.
Leiden: Leiden University Press.
c) Bambra, C (2007). Sifting theWheat from the Chaff? A Two-
dimensional Discriminant Analysis of Welfare State Regime
Theory. Social Policy & Administration, 41,1, 1-28.
d) Pierson, P. (2000). Three Worlds of Welfare State Research.
Comparative Political Studies 33.
Families, children and the welfare state
5 credits
Intermediate/advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Spring/summer 2015
Lecturer: Mikael Nygård, PhD, Reader (docent) in social policy.
Objectives and contents:
The course aims at identifying and analysing policies directed
towards families and children in Finland, but it also presents
