Completed project

Interactions between national and labour market based pensions in Norway: pension outcomes and policy processes

Project period September 2014–December 2017

Project employer The Research Council of Norway

Project nr. 10049

Project Participants

Fafo and the Institute for Social Research were carrying out the project, and it was led by Fafo.

Project Background

There is considerable research and debate on the reform of the old age pension in the National Insurance Scheme in Norway, but less is known about the related changes in the contractual pension scheme (AFP) and the consequences of the new regulations for occupational pension schemes in the private sector.

Researching the overall pension system and the interaction between its different parts is crucial in order to understand changes in the underlying logic of the overall system and the strategic manoeuvres of various key actors, as well as its impact on the distribution of individual total pension levels and the resulting effect on extended work careers.

The project therefore focused on the overall pension system and the interplay between various schemes.

Project Aim

The overall ambition has been to map out and model the full impact of the 2011 pension reform, to improve understanding of the policy processes shaping various parts of the reform, and to place these findings in a broader European context.

Participants

Participant	Degree	Phone	E-mail
Jon M. Hippe
Tove Midtsundstad
Christine Trampusch
Olli Kangas
Anniken Hagelund

Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2020). How Occupational Pensions Shape Extended Working Lives: Gender, Class and Chance after the Norwegian Pension Reform. Work, Employment and Society. p. 1–18. doi: 10.1177/0950017020952619. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Individuals’ need for extended working lives depends on the design of pension systems, including occupational pensions. This article examines variation in occupational pension generosity and coverage in Norway’s private sector. The analysis consists of microsimulations of future pension outcomes for cohorts born in 1953, 1963, 1973 and 1983. The first set of calculations estimate average pension levels for individuals with different pension packages who retire at 67; the second, how much longer workers in different cohorts will have to work in order to obtain a replacement rate of 70%. The overall finding is that while all workers in Norway must extend working life in the future, those with the most generous occupational pensions can retire about four years earlier than those with the least generous packages. This shows that the design and regulation of occupational pensions are crucial to the debate on extended working lives.
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2019). The expertise of politicians and their role in epistemic communities. Policy & Politics. 47(4), p. 561–577. doi: 10.1332/030557319X15662966019989. Full text in Research Archive
Hagelund, Anniken & Grødem, Anne Skevik (2019). When metaphors become cognitive locks: occupational pension reform in Norway. Policy and Society: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Policy Research. 38(3), p. 373–388. doi: 10.1080/14494035.2019.1646070. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The reform of the Norwegian pension system in the early 2000s sparked off a need to reform occupational pensions. In the private sector, this was done in negotiations in 2008. In the public sector, a similar attempt in 2009 failed, and the process was only finalized in 2018. We aim to show how discourse, and the way the issues were framed through narratives and metaphors, affected the reform processes in 2008/2009. We outline the significance of different constellation of actors in the two sectors, and show how this affected the ability to achieve common understandings (coordinative discourse) and popular support (communicative discourse). We then focus in particular on one popular metaphor, namely the toiler, and show how toilers emerged in different guises in both the private and public sector negotiations. A clear notion of what the toiler needed was constructed during the private-sector negotiations. When negotiations moved to the public sector, and a different type of toiler entered the picture, key reform architects were unable to adjust. The metaphor of the toiler ended up as a ‘cognitive lock’ that hampered rather than promoted reform in the public sector.
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2019). Which Enterprises Offer the Poorest and the Best Pension Entitlements? Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. 9(1). doi: 10.18291/njwls.v9i1.113083. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2018). Networking, lobbying and bargaining for pensions: trade union power in the Norwegian pension reform. Journal of Public Policy. p. 1–17. doi: 10.1017/S0143814X18000144. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Norway reformed its pension system in 2011, introducing a Swedish-style, NDC system. Contrary to expectations, the reform was largely supported by the dominant confederation of trade unions, the LO. In this article, we look at LO involvement in the process at different stages. Through qualitative interviews with key reform architects, we have traced the process between 2005 and 2008, emphasising actors, meeting places and interests. Starting from the insight that unions can influence through lobbying, bargaining and (the threat of) mobilising, we suggest that lobbying can be a mutual process, where parties and unions move each other’s positions. In addition, bargaining can take the form of behind-the-scenes cooperation, as well as of negotiations in the classic, Nordic-style industrial relations sense. Expanding on this framework, we suggest that the literature on pension reforms should pay more attention to negotiated and voluntary labour market occupational schemes, and to the importance of expertise and networks.
Pedersen, Axel West; Hippe, Jon Mathias; Grødem, Anne Skevik & Sørensen, Ole Beier (2018). Trade unions and the politics of occupational pensions in Denmark and Norway. Transfer - European Review of Labour and Research. 24(1), p. 109–122. doi: 10.1177/1024258917748873. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Around 1990, trade unions in both Norway and Denmark moved away from their previous hostile stance, and started actively to promote occupational pensions. Over time, full coverage of occupational pensions was achieved in both countries, yet with different scopes, degrees of risk-sharing and modes of governance. Why did both countries go through similar institutional changes, and why were the outcomes still so different? The roads to full coverage were different: In Denmark, this was achieved through wage bargaining; in Norway, through mandating. Denmark developed far more collectivistic schemes than Norway, but recent developments indicate convergence: efforts are being made in Norway to develop encompassing schemes more similar to the Danish ones, while the Danish system appears to be moving in a more individual direction. In both countries, strong trade union branches have at critical junctures forged alliances with their employer counterparts at the expense of trade union solidarity. Both mandatory and negotiated schemes thus have the potential to be sources of solidarity as well as of self-interest within the union movement.
Grødem, Anne Skevik; Hagelund, Anniken; Hippe, Jon Mathias & Trampusch, Christine (2018). Beyond coverage: the politics of occupational pensions and the role of trade unions. Introduction to special issue. Transfer - European Review of Labour and Research. 24(1), p. 9–23. doi: 10.1177/1024258917747842. Full text in Research Archive
Hagelund, Anniken & Grødem, Anne Skevik (2017). Build Your Own Pension: Framing Pension Reform and Choice in Newspapers. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. 29(3), p. 218–234. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2016.1242108. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Recent pension reforms in Norway mean that old-age pensions to a greater extent are a function of adaptations made and decisions made throughout the lifetime. How much you work, who you work for, when you retire, and how you invest will influence your standard of living as an old-age pensioner. This article investigates one important source of information about retirement and pension, namely service journalism in main national newspapers. How is the issue of pension framed in these articles? And what kind of advice is presented by which kind of actors? Findings indicate that service journalism is dominated by pension industry sources, and old-age pension is framed as a function of individual investment choices rather than as citizens’ rights.
Hippe, Jon Mathias; Lillevold, Pål & Vøien, Hans Gunnar (2017). Alle skal med? En analyse av frafall i AFP-ordningen. Søkelys på arbeidslivet. 34(1/2), p. 5–23. doi: 10.18261/issn.1504-7989-2017-01-02-01. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias & Steen, Sven Iver (2015). Før tariffoppgjøret 2016: Adgangen til å opprette (brede) felles tjenestepensjonsordninger. Arbeidsrett vol 12 nr 2 2015 [194–212]. Arbeidsrett. 12(2), p. 194–212. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2015). Utviklingen i AFP- og tjenestepensjonsrettigheter etter 2000. In Dale-Olsen, Harald (Eds.), Norsk arbeidsliv i turbulente tider. Gyldendal Akademisk. p. 184–201. Full text in Research Archive

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Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Nielsen, Roy A. (2019). Heving av aldersgrensen for stillingsvern Hvordan har virksomhetene og de ansatte tilpasset seg? Fafo. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias & Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2016). Teller AFP med? Omlegging av AFP og tilpasninger av tjenestepensjoner i privat sektor. Forskningsstiftelsen Fafo. Full text in Research Archive

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Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2019). Garanterte pensjonsprodukter - introduksjon (ledelse av seminar). Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2019). Effekter av nye pensjonsregler - introduksjon (ledelse av seminar). Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Nielsen, Roy A. (2019). Heving av aldersgrensen for stillingsvern - arbeidsgiveres og arbeidstakeres tilpasninger. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Nielsen, Roy A (2019). Endringer i aldersgrensen for stillingsvern (AML). Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2018). Gendering old age pensions: How the shifting private-public mix in pension politics reshape outcomes for men and women. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2018). Samspillet mellom folketrygdpensjonen og arbeidsmarkeds-baserte pensjoner i Norge: politiske prosesser og utfall. In Forskningsrådet, NFR (Eds.), Evaluering av pensjonsreformen - EVAPEN : avslutningskonferanse, artikler fra prosjektene. Norges forskningsråd. p. 3–20. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2018). Hvor mye betyr pensjonssystemet for pensjoneringsadferden? Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2018). Den lange reformprosessen, 2001-2018. Aktørene, arenaene og argumentene. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2018). Politikken i pensjonene - den lange reformprosessen. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2018). Politikken i pensjonene - reformprosessen 2001-2018. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2018). Politikken i pensjonene - den lange pensjonsprosessen. Full text in Research Archive
Pedersen, Axel West & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2017). En norsk trygdehistorie. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2017). Aldring ingen hindring? Hvem ansetter eldre over 67 år, og hvorfor? Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2017). Gendering old age pension reform: how private pension schemes reshape outcomes for men and women. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2017). Ingen brenning av bildekk. Den politiske prosessen fram til pensjonsreformen 2011. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2017). Vekst i europeiske tjenestepensjoner – markeds- eller fagforeningsmakt? Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2017). 'I fought the bureaucracy and the bureaucracy won.' Å gjenvinne kontrollen over et pensjonssystem i drift. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik & Hagelund, Anniken (2017). How some reform attempts succeed while others fail – a comparative analysis of two pension reform processes in one country. Full text in Research Archive
Grødem, Anne Skevik (2017). Ingen brenning av bildekk. Den politiske prosessen fram til pensjonsreformen 2011. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2016). Partial retirement and flexible retirement schemes in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2016). Employment promotion policies, social benefits, and the interaction of social protection schemes for senior workers in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Nielsen, Roy A (2016). Virksomheters og arbeidstakeres tilpasning til aldersgrensene. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Hippe, Jon Mathias (2016). Teller AFP med? Omlegging av AFP og tilpasninger av tjenestepensjon i privat sektor. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2016). Fakta om kvinner og pensjon. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias (2015). Utfordringer for offentlig tjenestepensjon. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias (2015). Livsforsikring og Solvens II i Norge. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias (2015). Offentlig tjenestepensjon - fremtidige endringer. Full text in Research Archive
Hippe, Jon Mathias (2015). Pensjonsreform¨og utfordringer for tjnenestepensjon i privat sektor. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2015). Virksomheter og arbeidstakeres tilpasning til aldersgrensene. Full text in Research Archive
Midtsundstad, Tove Irene (2014). Flexible retirement in Norway. Full text in Research Archive

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Research topics: welfare

Published Feb. 17, 2015 4:05 PM - Last modified June 10, 2026 1:26 PM