Health care and higher education governance: the role of the economic crisis

The paper contributes to existing literature on reactions to economic shocks by adding a specific comparative focus on core welfare sectors within the Nordic region. Comparing crisis reactions across countries using a framework of "cost saving", "reorganisation" and "programme" logic reveals patterns and constraints in different institutional settings. The paper concludes that although both countries initially tried to shelter the two sectors they have moved on to more radical strategic responses as the crisis has persisted. There are many similarities in the crisis reactions across the two countries and sectors, but also important differences, that may be ascribed to the specific institutional contexts.