Overview
Denmark, often known as the Kingdom of Denmark, is a small country on the European continent that is part of the Scandinavian countries. Denmark has a small population of approximately 5.4 million people and only 70 kilometers of land borders with other countries such as Germany. However, this is the Kingdom of Denmark's only land connection to the European continent. In Denmark, there are various public policies such as educational, economic, and healthcare policies that include rule schemes, regulatory procedures, guiding principles, and financial support that this administration should consider. Decisions based on education, economic, and healthcare policies in Denmark are in most cases decided by groups of people having different values and interests. These three policies of the Kingdom of Denmark entail every single action that the government takes. This paper discusses the education, economic, and healthcare policies in Denmark and explains the idea that they are derived from collections of bylaws, policy-making resolutions, and various lawful patterns.
Education Policy in Denmark
From the olden times, the educational system in Denmark has been embedded in the beliefs and moral principles of Christianity, and it is usually seeking to progress public awareness and economic performances so as to ensure social and political constancy and uphold competition in developed societies (Hobolt & Klemmemsen, 2005). The "Primary School Act" (Folkeskoleloven) delineates the guidelines for obligatory schooling, as well as for the public learning institution (fiolkeskole). The "fiolkeskole" is the body that builds the foundation of the lawful right to free education that was established in 1953 (Hobolt & Klemmemsen, 2005). But, it should not be forgotten that it is participation in learning, and not merely attending school that is mandatory for learners in Denmark.
Key Modifications to the Primary School Act
Some of the key modifications that were made to the Primary School Act between the nineteenth and twentieth century gave room for greater prominence on nurturing of liberal mindsets and the yearning to be educated and school-residence mutual aid. The historical connections to Christianity were also eliminated through this reform and in the process turning the public school structure not to be denominationally-based (Hobolt & Klemmemsen, 2005). In the 21st century, however, all-inclusive adjustments were made to the law, and the educational demands on learners were made tighter. Additionally, the working conditions for educators were clearly defined than before, turning the center of attention of these changes on expert levels of achievement and values of demeanor amongst teachers. The adjustments included having to set clear targets for all the subjects in an institution (2001), the introduction of state-run automated tests that would be used in measuring scholarly achievements at every level of the primary system (2006-07), and compulsory ninth-grade examinations (2007). These policies were introduced to make sure that every single student attained particular levels of subject comprehension and learning success. These goals reflect some of the latest policy re-adjustments currently shaping the education system in Denmark. For instance, there are now individually-set learner strategies with academic targets (Law 354, 2009), and the program of study in the tenth grade is aimed at helping learners to pick their desired educational paths (Law 560, 2007). To add on, youth grant funding to parents of any child aged 17 years are reliant on involvement in any form of education (Law 641, 2010), and the occupational learning system has been modified so as to make such forms of training more striking.
Organization of the Educational System
The system of schooling in Denmark entails the primary learning stage and the upper secondary learning stage. Youth education can be sub-divided into vocational training and university-preparatory secondary learning; with school programs that ensure that a student is qualified to be promoted to a higher schooling and professional curriculum that train learners for specific entry into the job market. The credentials managed in the course of any academic program offer learners with access to shorter, intermediate, and longer high education pathways, both apprentice and graduate stages (Vrangbæk & Christiansen, 2005). In times gone by, the primary school system was arranged from the academic ability of each student. Following the removal of the "mellemskole" in 1958 and "realskolen" in 1975, the primary teaching structure has arguably turn out to be more inclusive. Currently, instructions in primary institutions are custom-made according to the abilities of the students. From 1980, learners with various disabilities were being incorporated into public schools and even integrated into regular classroom settings. In 1993, the choice of having to track pupils into required and complex courses was brought to an end, and classification by abilities has been allowed in limited forms from that time.
Compulsory Education
As from 2014, learning is compulsory for every child aged between the ages of six and sixteen. Provided that one meets a particular standard, a child can receive his or her education in any learning institution. Hence, even as education is mandatory, attending school is not. Every town is accountable for making sure that every single child that resides within its precincts meets the learning requirements. Close to 86% of children do attend public education institutions in the entire Denmark (Hobolt & Klemmemsen, 2005). In 1814, every school-going child was given the lawful right to seven years of schooling. It was at this very time that "folkeskole" was founded. The primary public system was under clerical management until 1933 and was only dedicated to keeping Christianity-based worldview up to 1975. Following the reforms in 1975, the only values that such-like learning systems have abolished are "pluralism" and classlessness (Hobolt & Klemmemsen, 2005).
Economic Policy in Denmark
Regardless of the relatively slower recovery from post-predicament issues, the economic policy score in Denmark places the nation amongst the top most ranks globally, coming at number 3. Its score, as far as economic policy is concerned, has improved by 0.3 points from 2013. The growth rates have remained low, and are forecasted to be in this state for quite some time. Joblessness is mainly structural in the sense that the nation's "flexicurity" concept can only afford higher labor market mobility with training and aid offered to those who are jobless. The changeover rate from joblessness to employment is the European Union's most top, while social assistance aims at ensuring that more individuals acquire pieces of training that are relevant to the job market. It is true to say that the current reforms that have been brought in will help in increasing financial incentives for jobs and mostly for low-wage earners.
Economy in Denmark
The economy in the Kingdom of Denmark has for a long time showed patterns of booms and busts. Before the financial crisis, the economy was somehow heating, with moderate job loss rates, higher wage rises, and particularly high rises in home-based prices. Once the financial crisis befell, there were unexpected turns witnessed in the business world of Denmark characterized by large falls in Gross Domestic Products and employments. Resurgence from the predicament has proved to be sluggish, and the outputs have not bounced back to the crest levels realized before the crisis.
The financial crisis did create many issues for the economic sector because of unrestrained lending and bubbling of the housing prices. It is important, however, to note that only a handful of privately-owned homes went bankrupt at this moment. Public investments before the financial crisis had started to imply that there was room for an expansive "fiscal policy." Of late, improvements have been realized in the employment sector although development rates have remained low and analysts have predicted rates ranging between 1.3% to 3% over the coming couple of years (Kirkpatrick, Jespersen, Dent, & Neogy, 2009). Fairly, the financial system of Denmark is performing practically fine as unemployment rates are falling and there are lower public debts.
It is remarkable that irrespective of the changes in the national administration, there have been extensive agreements on the fundamental features of macroeconomic policy as the nation's short-term objective. This is a vital factor for the financial system of Denmark that is seen to be performing practically fine. Without bias, this sharply contrasts the 1970s and 1990s, a period when this great nation was over and over again viewed as an example not to be followed.
Labor Market Policy
The job market in this very nation has turned to be "flexicurity" in nature meaning it is less costly to let off human resources and that the welfare state will intervene with income aid when needed, drive and preparation to assist workforces in finding employment. This concept has been severely put under test by the financial crisis.
Tax Policy and Budgetary Policy
The wide-ranging welfare state is financed by the use of tax burdens equivalent to close to 60% of Gross Domestic Product (Kirkpatrick et al., 2009). The tax outlines are different from other states in that direct incomes and indirect ones are used as the prime dues, whereas social security charities play more self-effacing roles. Larger and smaller tax reforms have since been put into practice in the past couple of years after a global trend that saw expansion of income tax bases and reduction of subsidiary tax rates. The worldwide economic crisis brought about a theatrical drift in public finance from more than enough to scarcity. The extents of the economic crisis and the strong automatic budget reactions accounted for the drift (Norredam, Mygind, & Krasnik, 2006). To add on, Denmark has also gone in search of an expanding caution policy aimed at mitigating some of the aftermaths of the crisis.
Healthcare Policy in Denmark
Denmark has a stronger and high-performing healthcare structure. But, various challenges stay put as far as primary care and prevention are concerned. Harmful illicit drug consumption and mounting overweight and obesity rates amongst adults posit that there is a need for individual public health care policies in this nation. The responsibilities of the social care will become imperative to fortify the primary healthcare sector so as to ensure that the medical needs of the growing elderly populace are met besides filling the gaps when it comes to providing healthcare services (Magnussen, Vrangbaek, & Saltman, 2009).
Life Expectancy and Public Health Concerns
To begin with, there are lower life expectancy levels in Denmark in spite of adequate funding of the healthcare sector. In most cases, higher spending in the health sector is linked to higher life expectancy. In spite of the well-financed and properly functioning healthcare system, the sprawling life expectancy of this region can only be described mostly by factors like poor population health. This is where the healthcare policy comes in since through effective policies the nation can look for alternative ways of investing in cost-friendly preventive measures like door-to-door counseling based on personal threat factors.
Mental Health Concerns
Mentally-related health concerns are approximated to cost the economy of Denmark close to 7 billion Euros, equivalent to 3.5% of the Gross Domestic Product yearly, in lost efficiency, health, and social expenditure (Magnussen, Vrangbaek, & Saltman, 2009). Those suffering from various mental illnesses have very lower chances of being employed in any job whatsoever and in most cases, the employed ones do get fired. For instance, in Denmark, three in six with mental-related illnesses who have jobs do struggle at their workstations, and disability benefits as a result of mental disorders are on the rise, particularly for the youth. Through suitable healthcare policy, the Danish government has tried to develop coordination between psychological health and physical healthcare. Medical care for other disorders like depression is increasingly being provided and has been made reachable, thanks to fitting health policies. The government, through its policies, has developed ways of integrating health and employment services to ensure that the enduring social and labor market developments provide for individuals with psychological disorders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is true to say that the various public policies in Denmark such as educational, economic, and healthcare policies comprise of schemes of rules, regulatory procedures, guiding principles, and financial support that this very administration should consider. Decisions based on education, economic, and healthcare policies in Denmark are in most cases decided by groups of people having different values and interests. These three policies of the Kingdom of Denmark entail every single action that the government takes in ensuring that the life of every citizen is improved in all aspects.
References
Hobolt, S. B., & Klemmemsen, R. (2005). Responsive government? Public opinion and government policy preferences in Britain and Denmark. Political Studies, 53(2), 379-402.
Kirkpatrick, I., Jespersen, P. K., Dent, M., & Neogy, I. (2009). Medicine and management in a comparative perspective: the case of Denmark and England. Sociology of health & illness, 31(5), 642-658.
Magnussen, J., Vrangbaek, K., & Saltman, R. (2009). Nordic Health Care Systems: Recent Reforms And Current Policy Challenges: Recent Reforms and Current Policy Challenges. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Norredam, M., Mygind, A., & Krasnik, A. (2006). Access to health care for asylum seekers in the European Union—a comparative study of country policies. The European Journal of Public Health, 16(3), 285-289.
Vrangbæk, K., & Christiansen, T. (2005). Health policy in Denmark: leaving the decentralized welfare path?. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 30(1-2), 29-52.
