INVI presents four paths to sustainable welfare at the Local Government Summit
Think tank INVI, in collaboration with Local Government Denmark, has mapped how municipal politicians perceive the challenge of creating sustainable welfare in Denmark towards 2035. With INVI's Wild Problems Model, insights from 403 municipal politicians have painted a new picture of how the collective municipal Denmark perceives the paths to sustainable welfare.
"The welfare society is in the midst of a change of direction where, after many years of tight cost control, the focus must be on developing the welfare that is the core of our social model," said Martin Damm, President of Local Government Denmark.
He expressed hope for a robust welfare state in response to the geopolitical changes we are facing.
"Some might ask, can you do that in the time of crisis we're in right now? " Martin Damm asked rhetorically and continues: "Yes, you can."
Photo: Lars Horn / Baghuset
The analysis shows four possible paths to that shift based on responses from 403 municipal politicians. In free text, they described challenges and solutions related to ensuring sustainable welfare. The responses have been analyzed with INVI's Wild Problem Model - a new analysis format that uses artificial intelligence and statistical tools to transform qualitative impressions into quantitative expressions.
"This is the first time we have gained such in-depth insight into the challenges we face and what municipal politicians think we can do about them," said INVI's Director Sigge Winther Nielsen from the stage at KL's Municipal Policy Summit in Aalborg, where he presented the results to an audience of 1,500 municipal politicians and mayors, and more than 300 invited guests from the Danish Parliament, government and ministries.
If we are to reach our goal on the road to sustainable welfare, municipalities have a crucial role to play. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized this in her video greeting just before Sigge:
"We can make a lot of decisions in Parliament - but when it comes to making it happen in reality, it's your decisions and your work that make all the difference."
The analysis 'Four paths to sustainable welfare' offers a new perspective on how to shape the future of welfare.
Four paths to sustainable prosperity
Sigge Winther Nielsen took a helicopter perspective on municipal welfare and presented four concrete paths based on an analysis of 57,498 free text words from municipal politicians in different 95 municipalities.
The 403 municipal politicians provide 1,374 reasons why we risk failing to future-proof welfare and 1,053 solutions to future-proof welfare.
From that mapping, INVI has identified four pathways:
1. Less is more: radical de-bureaucratization, smart financial management and a constant strive to deliver welfare simpler and better.
Smarter not harder: A targeted investment in new technological solutions that free up welfare workers to focus on core tasks.
Join forces: Breaking down silos and better utilizing the potential of civil society, businesses and volunteers - with an increased focus on prevention.
New deal: Political courage to renegotiate the social contract and see the possibilities that the new geopolitical reality can strengthen welfare.
The roads provide municipalities with a strategic starting point to navigate the wild problems and dare to take steps towards sustainable welfare that strengthens the resilience of society and creates lasting solutions for citizens.
Sigge Winther Nielsen stated to the audience: "There are several ways to get to sustainable welfare. It's your time to choose, because if we don't choose, we risk dismantling rather than development."
Press inquiries should be directed to INVI's Head of Communications, Tine Maria Borresø, at +45 61 66 30 60 or tinemaria@invi.nu
Want to read more about the causes and solutions? Read the PIXI here.