Creative corporatism: how the state supports transformative innovation in Nordic Europe

Darius Ornston

Chapter 19 in The New Role of the State for Transformative Innovation, 2026, pp 308-320 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Over the last century, the Nordic countries have demonstrated a remarkable capacity for reinvention, radically restructuring their economies and transforming their societies to tackle grand challenges. This chapter attributes their flexibility to neo-corporatism, or institutionalized cooperation between the state and encompassing producer associations. Historically perceived to delay the pace of adjustment, this chapter illustrates how reform-oriented policymakers can use neo-corporatist networks to accelerate change, more effectively gathering information, persuading sceptics, compensating opponents, and coordinating public and private sector activity. After briefly illustrating how this ‘creative’ application of neo-corporatism shaped high-technology competition, green transitions, and pandemic responses, the chapter concludes by discussing contemporary challenges to neo-corporatism and the future prospects for participatory governance.

Keywords: Nordic Europe; Neo-corporatism; Innovation; The State; Grand Challenges; Social Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781839100253
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