The purpose of welfare policy is to ensure good living conditions for the population as well as an inclusive society. This objective requires constantly updated knowledge about the design of social policy and the consequences of various services and benefits.
A key question is how the welfare state works for users in general and vulnerable groups in particular. This is particularly important in order to shed light on the consequences of poverty and social exclusion.
The goal of the Department for Health and Welfare Studies at Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) is to contribute knowledge in these fields.
Head of research group
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Members
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More about our research
Welfare states face several major challenges, and the Department for Health and Welfare Studies pays particular attention to five main challenges that form its core areas:
- welfare states and the green transition
- democracy and public administration
- comprehensive welfare services
- equal opportunities in education and employment
- social inequality in health
In the Department of Health and Welfare Studies, we work with interdisciplinary and comparative research throughout the life cycle, and migration and disability are central themes of our research.
In NOVA's strategy for the period from 2023 to 2026, we will anchor research activities within the above five core areas by continuing to:
- maintain a high academic level of our scientific publication
- disseminate our research to relevant user groups and the general public
- build on and expand existing international networks, and continue to focus on applications for international funding.
Our researchers and PhD candidates cover a range of disciplines (sociology, political science, economics, human geography, psychology and social work).
We lead and are involved in national and international research projects, funded by, among others, the European Commission, the EEA NO Grants, the Research Council of Norway, Norwegian ministries, directorates and civil society organisations.
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Publications
- Vabø, M. & Graff, L. (2023). Making sense of reablement within different institutional contexts. Collaborative service ideals in Norwegian and Danish home care. International Journal of Social Welfare (online.wiley.com)
- Hansen, H.C. (2022). Fra tillitspolicy til praksis: Styringsrelasjoner i hjemmetjenestens førstelinje. Norsk sosiologisk tidsskrift (idunn.no)
- Bjørnshagen, V. (2022). Do Large Employers Discriminate Less? An Exploration of Company Size Variation in Disability Discrimination Based on Data from two Field Experiments. Work and occupations (journals.sagepub.com)
- Heggebø, K. (2022). Gendered health consequences of unemployment in Norway 2000–2017: a register‑based study of hospital admissions, health‑related benefit utilisation, and mortality. BMC Public Health (bmcpublichealth.com)
- Østerud, K.L. & Vedeler, J.S. (2022). Disability and Regulatory Approaches to Employer Engagement: Cross-National Challenges in Bridging the Gap between Motivation and Hiring Practice. Social Policy and Society (cambridge.org)
- Wondemu, M.Y. m.fl. (2022). Impact of child disability on parental employment and labour income: a quasi-experimental study of parents of children with disabilities in Norway. BMC Public Health (bmcpublichealth.com)
- Haug, A.V. (2022). Collaborative Management in Norwegian Municipalities: Do Middle Managers Make a Difference? Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration (oda.oslomet.no)
- Bjørnshagen, V. (2022). Levekår blant voksne med ADHD. NOVA Rapport 5/22 (oda.oslomet.no)
- Takle, M. (2021). Common concern for the global ecological commons: solidarity with future generations?’. International Relations (journals.sagepub.com)
- Finnvold, J.E. (2021). Integrating Students with Disabilities in Schools. Lessons from Norway. Palgrave Pivot (link.springer.com)
More publications are listed on the researcher's employee pages.
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Projects
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Direct and Indirect Costs of Disabilities in Children (BUDGET)
The research project addresses the costs aspects of caring for a child with a disability.
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Socio-spatial Inequality among Families with Children with Disabilities who are Entitled to Cash Benefits and Welfare Services (UPTAKE)
The research project will provide insight into the uptake and delivery of benefits and services among parents of children with disabilities.
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Consequences of the Pandemic for Living Conditions and Equality
In this project we will investigate the consequences of the pandemic for living conditions for children and young people, equality in families and for individuals, including children and adults with disabilities.
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Crisis Management in a Polycentric Nordic Local Democracy (POLYGOV)
The overall goal of the project is to identify the differences in the Nordic countries’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outcomes thereof and to relate these differences to policy, governance, organisation and management.
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CONTEXT – Creating Integrated Person-centred Care in Different Settings
This project addresses how settings and contexts which enhance people-centred care can be created.
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HIRE? A Mixed-method Examination of Disability and Employers Inclusive Working Life Practices
Employers' understandings of disability as well as their broader knowledge and skills are likely to influence their risk assessments and hiring practices. HIRE? aims to fill this knowledge gap.
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EUROSHIP – Closing Gaps in Social Citizenship. New Tools to Foster Social Resilience in Europe
The overall aim of the EUROSHIP project is to provide an original and gender-sensitive assessment of the current gaps in social protection across Europe.
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Direct and Indirect Costs of Disabilities in Children (BUDGET)
