Working Papers

The Impact of Family Policies during Turbulent Times

A severe economic crisis hit Norway in 1987 and lasted for seven years (1987-1993). Unemployment reached the highest levels in the postwar period, the entire banking system was in disarray, individuals and their families were hit by worsening economic conditions and uncertainty. It was the severest economic crisis in Norway during the postwar period, and hence a period of turbulence for the government, organizations, and for individuals and their families. Mjøset and Cappelen (2011: 217) write: ‘The turbulence in 1986-1992 created a ‘state of emergency’ that sustained a crisis consciousness in many circles’.