Domestic and Foreign Policy from 1945 Einar Gerhardsen

gerhardsen @ political rally in bergen in late 1960s

during , after periods in office respected people, not sharing social democratic views. administrations led forged eclectic economic policy in government regulation of commerce, industry , banking combined market economics. abject poverty , unemployment sharply reduced government s policies of industrialisation , redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation, creation of comprehensive social security system.

the norwegian state housing bank law of march 1946 introduced relatively cheap loans cooperative housing societies , individual private builders. child allowances law of october 1946 introduced allowances second , subsequent children under age of 16, while providing allowances single-parent families first child. under july 1947 law, unemployment insurance coverage extended agricultural workers , other groups. in 1947, loan fund students introduced. same year, housing allowances introduced families 2 or more children below age of 16, “who live in dwellings financed through housing bank , in municipalities pay one-third of allowance.” comprehensive schooling law of july 1954 established 9-year comprehensive schooling on trial basis, while sickness insurance law of march 1956 introduced compulsory insurance residents. law of january 1960 introduced invalidity pension scheme , law of june 1961 extended accident coverage military personnel , conscripts. in 1957, universal basic pensions introduced. in 1957 orphans’ pension scheme established, , in 1958 university occupational injury insurance introduced. in 1957, housing allowances made available single-parent families children, , same year, , income , property means test introduced while housing allowances law made compulsory municipalities. in 1964, national widow’s benefit introduced.

in foreign policy, aligned norway western powers @ end of 1940s after initial hesitation within governing party, , norway became founding member of nato. documents 1958 reveal gerhardsen s government knew israel going use heavy water supplied noratom plutonium production, making possible israel produce nuclear weapons.

in november 1962 accident in 21 miners died occurred in kings bay coal mine on spitsbergen in svalbard archipelago. in aftermath, gerhardsen government accused of not complying laws enacted parliament. in summer of 1963 vote of no confidence passed support of socialist people s party , centre-right minority coalition government formed, under john lyng. although new government lasted 3 weeks, until socialist people s party realigned labour, formed basis opposition victory under leadership of per borten @ 1965 elections. gerhardsen retired national politics in 1969 continued influence public opinion through writing , speeches.

gerhardsen s political legacy still important force in norwegian politics, within own party, although of social policies of government have been revised.

(see economy of norway)