INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Scandinavian Labour and Social Policy Models for a Preventive Welfare State Sven Jochem January 2011 n Reference is often made in discussions of the preventive welfare state in Germany to Scandinavian welfare states. This paper provides a systematic account of the im­plementation of preventive social policy in the Nordic countries. n The Nordic welfare states offer comprehensive protection against social risks and invest positively in lifelong learning. The integration in the labour market of as many people as possible is one aspect of a preventive welfare state; another is highly organised and high quality services. n Preventive social policy in the Nordic countries is based on particular institutions and traditions. It is embedded in a tax and fiscal policy regime in which extensive redistribution is combined with principles of robust public budget management.