Government and Financing Arrangements Concerning Education and Elderly Care in Switzerland and Norway. A Comparison of Welfare Solutions and Levels in Relation to Local and Central Administration and Democracy.

Government and financing
Social welfare and education have roots in earlier history of religion and political movements. In what way are the different solutions in the two countries a result of earlier history? Are the levels of compensation and the overall solutions, good and just outcomes for the people who are dependent upon them? How good and effective are the public and private bodies involved in the governing and supporting systems? Are the half-direct democracy in Switzerland and the representative democracy in Norway important in determining the outcomes?

Are the outcomes and experiences useful also for the further international society?

Education
In Switzerland is education largely the responsibility of the Cantons and the municipalities, although there have been taken steps for coordinating education on a national level.
In Norway, the content of the education system is mostly a state responsibility, but the allocation of resources to the primary and lower secondary schools is a task for the municipalities. The counties are running most of the upper secondary schools in Norway, but their freedom of acting are limited by strict national rules.

Elderly care
In Switzerland, the pension system is mostly private, so Swiss inhabitants will often have to save to their pension in private bodies although in an organized way. Financing their older days is to a high degree a responsibility for the individual, so the situation for the elderly is a result of their priorities and earlier situation.
In Norway, the situation for the elderly is mainly a public responsibility. Never the less it is resulting in differing levels of welfare because of earlier income and years in working life. As the number of older people is rising steep, there are consequences for the pensions in the future.