Kirjahaku

Study after study has shown that Scandinavia is the most trusting region in the world. Danes in particular trust other people and organizations—including strangers, businesses, governments, law enforcement, and media—more than the citizens of any other country. And countries with deep pools of social trust are populated by individuals who cooperate with each other in ways that allow public and private institutions to function more efficiently and cheaply. Is the Nordic countries’ high level of social trust just as important for creating prosperity and happiness within a population as other, more tangible economic factors? If so, where does this stock of social trust in Scandinavia come from? Does it help to explain the development of the universal welfare states and their surprisingly high business competitiveness? Can other nations learn from the region and apply that knowledge to settings where social trust levels are low or in danger of being eroded? Social trust has proven economic value, and Gert Tinggaard Svendsen warns that its benefits should never be taken for granted. Trust can dissolve and vanish quickly, and once gone, it is very difficult to rebuild. Governments and corporations are gradually increasing their control over people’s public and private lives, with predictably worrying results. When people feel taken advantage of or lied to, public confidence evaporates. Since strong social cohesion drives long-term prosperity, Nordic exceptionalism on maintaining and restoring trust offers valuable lessons.

A brief but engaging look at the importance of trust.Gert Tinggaard Svendsen explores how to cultivate this elusive feeling—and why developing trust is so important for maintaining a happy, stable, and economically sound society. Without it, societies become more corrupt and legal systems cannot guarantee justice. Why do Nordic countries like Denmark score so highly in trust and happiness levels and so low in levels of corruption—and how can other countries replicate these stats for the good of their people? Higher levels of trust often translate to more cooperation and social responsibility, advantages in economic growth and social stability, and happier workplaces. Tinggard Svendsen's research on trust emphasizes that if we want to build trust, we must minimize control. The fewer resources we expend on surveillance and monitoring, the more resources we can use to improve competition, advance research, and nurture innovation. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.

Olsons teori om det kollektive handlingsproblem er blevet kaldt det centrale emne i Statskundskaben' Elinor Ostrom, Nobelprisvinder i økonomi 2009. Siden Mancur Olson (1932-1998) er 'rationel choice' blevet en grundsten i statskundskab og sociologi. Olsons teori om det kollektive handlingsproblem og hvordan interessegrupper opstår, brød således med den traditionelle gruppeteori om fælles interesse. Denne idé har for eksempel betydning for forståelsen af internationalt samarbejde, hvor formålet nu bliver at etablere institutioner, som skal sikre tilvejebringelsen af kollektive goder og forhindre 'free riding' blandt de involverede parter. Endvidere har hans påpegning af interessegruppers betydning for økonomisk vækst haft stor teoretisk og politisk indfyldelse. Et eksempel kunne være den aktuelle diskussion i EU om, hvorvidt lobbyisme skal reguleres eller ej. Endelig har Olsons forfatterskab kredset om, hvordan magtudøvelse i diktatur og demokrati påvirker et lands velstand. IndholdsoversigtRedaktionelt forordKapitel 1. BiografiKapitel 2. The LogicKapitel 3. The Rise and Decline of NationsKapitel 4. Power and ProsperityKapitel 5. Teoretisk indflydelseKapitel 6. Politisk indflydelse og aktualitetKapitel 7. Udvalgte teksterLitteratur

Udlændinge forbløffes over, at man på køreture gennem det danske sommerlandskab støder på ubemandede boder med friske jordbær, sprøde asparges og en lille cigarkasse med byttepenge. Endnu mere forbløffende er det, at bodens ejer om aftenen kan hente en fyldt pengekasse. Stort set alle andre steder i verden ville både jordbær, asparges og penge være væk. Men danskerne er verdensmestre i tillid: Vi stoler på vores statslige skrankepaver og vores pertentlige politi, og vi stiller ubekymret vores børn i ubevogtede barnevogne uden for butikker. Umiddelbart kan det virke tåbeligt og blåøjet med al den danske tillid. Set fra et samfundsmæssigt synspunkt er det dog smart, at vi er så tillidsfulde, for social sammenhængskraft i et samfund er med til at give en god økonomi og en stærk produktionskraft. Så vi er ikke kun tillidsfulde, fordi vi har et velfærdssystem - vi har også et velfærdssystem, fordi vi er tillidsfulde.

UdlAendinge forbloffes over, at man pa koreture gennem det danske sommerland stoder pa ubemandede boder med friske jordbAer, sprode asparges og en lille cigarkasse med byttepenge. Endnu mere forbloffende er det, at bodens ejer om aftenen kan hente en fyldt pengekasse. Stort set alle andre steder i verden ville bade jordbAer, asparges og penge vAere vAek.Men danskerne er verdensmestre i tillid: Vi stoler pa vores statslige skrankepaver og vores pertentlige politi, og vi stiller ubekymret vores born i ubevogtede barnevogne uden for butikker. Umiddelbart kan det virke tabeligt og blaojet med al den danske tillid. Set fra et samfundsmAessigt synspunkt er det dog smart, at vi er sa tillidsfulde, for social sammenhAengskraft i et samfund er med til at give en god okonomi og en stAerk produktionskraft. Sa vi er ikke kun tillidsfulde, fordi vi har et velfAerdssystem - vi har ogsa et velfAerdssystem, fordi vi er tillidsfulde.

In Trust, political scientist Gert Tinggaard Svendsen explores how to cultivate trust and why it’s important for maintaining a happy, stable, and economically sound society. Higher levels of trust often translate to more cooperation and social responsibility, advantages in economic growth and social stability, and happier workplaces. Without trust, societies become more corrupt, and legal systems cannot guarantee justice. Tinggard Svendsen's research emphasizes that if we want to build trust, we must minimize control. The fewer resources we expend on surveillance and monitoring, the more resources we can use to improve competition, advance research, and nurture innovation. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives. Gert Tinggaard Svendsen is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University.