The findings show that the values of freedom and equality in relevance to the welfare state are not experienced as conflicting by Norwegian citizens. Equality (likeverd) not sameness (likhet) is the most important value and it is the result of the municipality services that people feel enhance equality. The report also shows that there is a huge imbalance in the relation of responsibility between the state and the municipalities.

In collaboration with social anthropologists from the University of Oslo and Telemarksforsking on a commission from KS, our researchers have conducted generative conversations with approximately 120 municipality elects, administrative leaders and citizens in nine different municipalities in Norway – from Telemark in the south to Finnmark in the north. The discussions addressed the questions of equality (likhet), freedom and justice (rettferdighet) and what these values mean in various local political contexts where a lot is at stake  especially on the areas of education and health care.

Download the report (Norwegian only), read the article in DN and in LO Aktuelt, and visit the project website at  Likhet&Frihet. and at SINTEF.no 

See also: Rudningen, G. and Hagen, A.L. (2010) Report on Research
and Innovation - The hidden treasure - an innovative public sector