Privatization of Early Childhood Education and Care in Nordic Countries

In: Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research

Abstract

1 Introduction -- Introduction -- The Nordic Welfare Model -- The Share of Public, Nonprofit, and For-Profit Welfare Providers -- ECEC in the Nordic Countries -- Three Sets of Goals for ECEC -- Challenges Facing ECEC in the Nordic Countries: Demographic Changes, Accessibility, and Educational Approach -- Explaining Institutional Change -- Approaches to the Provision of Welfare Services -- The Three Actors in the Welfare Mix -- Public Provision or Privatization? -- The Welfare Sector as a Quasi-Market -- The Role of Nonprofit Providers as Part of the Welfare Mix -- The Remainder of This Book: ECEC From a Comparative Nordic Perspective -- References -- 2 Shared Roots—Private Initiatives Along Two Trajectories -- Introduction -- The Dual Trajectory of the ECEC System -- Trajectory 1: Charities Establish Children's Asylums as Protectors from the Dangers of Streets -- Trajectory 2: Philanthropic Kindergartens and For-Profit Child Residential Homes for Wealthy Families -- The Merging of the Two Trajectories -- Fostering a Nordic ECEC Model Through Kindergarten Teacher Education -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 3 From the Fringes to the Heart of the Welfare State—Growth in ECEC Coverage -- Introduction -- Legislative Foundation -- Consolidation and Growth -- Full Coverage -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 4 Changes in the Role of Commercial and Nonprofit ECEC Providers—Deviations from the Nordic Welfare Model? -- Introduction -- Private Growth -- Explaining the Growth of Private Actors: Framework Conditions, Financing, and Public Debates -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 5 Reigning in Provider Diversity? Regulation, Steering, and Supervision -- Introduction -- Educational Promotion—The Rationale for State Steering -- National Policies Pursued in Terms of Regulation and Curriculum -- Securing Compliance—Supervision -- Soft Steering—Manuals and Evaluations -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 6 Does It Matter? Quality Differences Among Public, Nonprofit, and For-Profit Providers -- Introduction -- Theoretical Underpinnings of Different Ownership and Quality -- Quality of ECEC -- International Experiences: Quality Differences Among Public, Nonprofit, and For-Profit ECEC? -- Research in the Nordic Countries on Quality Differences Among Public, Nonprofit, and For-Profit Providers -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 7 Conclusions -- Introduction -- Why Private Growth in Nordic ECEC? -- How to Respond to Adverse Effects From Marketization? Nordic Attempts to Reign in Quasi-markets -- Governance Challenges in the Welfare Mix -- Why Diversity in Provision? -- A Nordic Dimension in ECEC Governance? -- References.