Japanese Journal of Northern European Studies
Online ISSN : 2433-4596
Print ISSN : 1880-2834
ISSN-L : 1880-2834
Volume 12
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
Special issue: Characteristics and Achievements of Swedish Firms
  • Miki Kishida
    2016Volume 12 Pages 1-11
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Swedish company has employee representations on the board, so that Swedish corporate governance is belong to the stakeholder model of corporate governance. This article examined the works of employee representation on the board by using the Levinson's questionnaire surveys. The article points out that: even though employee representation has some difficulty to participate in every discussion on the board, they have been playing the important role by communicating the decision by the board to the employee organizations smoothly at the same time by communicating the information on work site and employees to the board. This mechanism has been supported by both national unions and employer organizations, facilitating the coordination of the interests of employees and management on the company board. In recent years, however, the number of employee representation has decreased, so that their role of coordinating the interests may be weakened in the future.
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  • Sawako Maruyama
    2016Volume 12 Pages 23-35
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    This paper analyzes the changes of economic institution of Sweden in association with the integration into the European Single Market from two aspects. One aspect involves the change of economic institution in order to introduce the main function of the European Single Market, that is to say, the four freedoms. The other aspect is the change induced by the harmonization of Swedish system to EU system on the condition to the integration. The analysis revealed that these changes affected Swedish economy and companies as follows. First, free movement of goods, services, and capital lowered the barriers for Swedish companies to expand their business overseas. Secondly, capital inflows increased after the deregulation of capital market. It changed the ownership structure of Swedish companies drastically. Thirdly, institutional reforms for harmonization made Swedish market more open and efficient. This changed an economic environment and competitive conditions surrounding Swedish companies.
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Article
  • Satomi Tanaka
    2016Volume 12 Pages 37-45
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    In Finland, local government law was amended in 2015. The aims of the amendment were to secure economic sustainability, to improve administration methods and to strengthen democracy. Concerning the strengthening of democracy, there were reforms in the way citizens participate. The revised law suggested that regional committees could be established for local government. In this paper, we address the district committee established by Rovaniemi city. We examine how the municipality guarantees the rights of participation, exercises its influence, and the challenges it has faced. This was done through a field survey and a review of the literature. In the survey, conducted by Rovaniemi city right after the district committee was founded, there was a positive evaluation of the idea of a district committee and its significance. However, in 2015 with the end of the trial period approaching, the rapporteur is afraid that the expense and the length of time for decision-making threaten the continuation of the district committee. From this case study of the Rovaniemi City district committee, the difficulties of implementing neighborhood democracy are revealed.
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  • Kayo Fukami
    2016Volume 12 Pages 47-56
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    The Swedish Medical System has been known for its long waiting lists. However, in recent years central and local governments have constructed policies in order to improve this. The first national policy was made in1987, where they allocated extra funds into three kinds of surgeries. Another policy was made in 1992 which made it mandatory for 10 surgeries to be done in 3 months. This was called the 'Maximum Waiting Time Guarantee'. There were several amendments after the policy's implementation. One referred to what was covered in the Guarantee: In1997 this was amended to include waiting times to see doctors, in 2005 for waiting time for surgery or treatment. An economical incentive program was also started in 2009 in order to increase practicality, and finally in 2010 the Guarantee became a part of a patient's legal right. These policies were effective to an extent, but as they create a burden on workers, it has not managed to completely solve the problem of long waiting lists. Therefore, more research about supply and demand will be needed in order to find the cause of the long waiting lists.
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Research Note
  • Sae Tamagawa
    2016Volume 12 Pages 57-65
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Work-line is an important norm for the Swedish society. Thus, government provides tolerant immigration policy towards immigrants and refugees to prevent unemployment. However, there are particular group of people who fall behind and being unemployed compared with others. They are the second-generation immigrants whose parents are from non-European counties. In this research note, firstly, immigration history and policy for immigrants and refugees are explained. Secondly, previous research will be indicated and they were divided into two depends on the reason why the unemployment difference according to the parents' origin of second generation immigrants occur. Thirdly, the reason was examined by making the research of Portes&Rumbaut (2001). As a result, following is revealed. The period that when first-generation immigrants move into Sweden, and how they were integrated have to be taken into account when it comes to the difference of labor market outcomes. Furthermore, the importance of talking the difference from the race is pointed out.
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  • Noriko Hasegawa
    2016Volume 12 Pages 67-76
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: December 01, 2017
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    This paper focuses on the crisis of the decrease in the number of students in Hattfjelldal Saami school, which is located in the South Saami area in Norway, and discusses the present Saami situation as regards school education for this indigenous minority, with a special focus on the South Sami area. Saami education is gradually being improved. Besides, each Saami school has unique historical circumstances and has unique education in Saami language and culture. In spite of these changes, however, in the Hattfjelldal Saami school, located in the Southern Saami area of Norway, a dramatic decrease in the number of pupils has been seen. In this paper I discuss the current problems and future possibilities of Hattfjelldal Saami school. This is done through comparison with Tärnaby Sami school in Sweden. The basis for the research was done through visits to the two schools between August 4 and September 15, 2011, during which I studied the historical background and Education Act of each country. This paper aims to elucidate the background to the differences between the two Sami schools.
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