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Why Norway Must Choose Justice in a Time of War and Uncertainty
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This is an op-ed written by an external contributor. All views expressed are the writer's own.
Europe is once again entering an era of uncertainty. The war in Iran, energy instability, geopolitical tensions and rising inequality create a landscape that demands courage, foresight and policy choices with a social conscience.
As a Greek who has lived through the consequences of policies that favoured the few at the expense of the many, I follow with great interest the debate unfolding today in Norway. Should the wealthy pay more taxes? And what does this choice mean in a world on fire?
The answer is not merely economic. It is deeply political, profoundly European and fundamentally human.
In recent years, Norway has been engaged in an intense public debate about wealth taxation. Many billionaires have moved their tax residence to Switzerland to avoid the wealth tax. The right argues for tax cuts to “keep investors in the country”. The centre left defends the welfare state.
This debate is not technical. It is existential. It concerns what kind of society Norway wants to be.
The war in Iran changes everything.
And the answer cannot be given without looking at what is happening around us.
The war in Iran changes everything.
The war is not a distant event. It is a shockwave that affects Europe on three levels:
1. Economic uncertainty
Energy prices are rising. Markets are volatile. Public finances are under pressure. In such conditions, societies need a strong welfare state not weakened public revenues.
2. The need for European autonomy
Europe cannot depend on unstable regions for energy, security and raw materials. Autonomy requires investment, green transition, echnological capacity and industrial policy. All of this is funded by fair taxation, not tax cuts for the wealthy.
3. Who pays the cost of crises?
In every crisis, economic, health related, geopolitical, the wealthy are protected. Societies are not. The war in Iran reminds us that real security is not military. It is social.
What research shows about tax cuts for the rich:
The study "The economic consequences of major tax cuts for the rich" (Dr. David Hope (King’s College London & LSE) shows clearly that:
- Tax cuts for the wealthy do not increase growth.
- They do not increase investment.
- They do not create jobs.
- They increase inequality.
- They weaken the welfare state.
And when the welfare state is weakened, the regions small towns, rural areas, remote communities, are the first to pay the price.
The Finnish example
The Unequal Europe project and the Unequal Finland report show that even the strongest societies can falter when they abandon their regions.
In Finland we see:
- deindustrialisation,
- demographic collapse in entire areas,
- reduced access to healthcare and education,
- concentration of opportunities only in major cities.
These developments are political choices.
The consequences are now undeniable.
The Scandinavian lesson
At the same time, a series of Nordic studies and public discussions warn of something else, the privatization of welfare services carries serious risks.
In Sweden, where privatization began in the 1990s, the consequences are now undeniable:
- declining service quality,
- rising inequality,
- profit making at the expense of workers and families,
- even infiltration of organised crime into welfare provision.
It is no coincidence that Swedish analyst Lisa Pelling warns, “don’t try the Swedish welfare experiment at home.”
In Norway, the official Welfare Services Committee reached the same conclusion: core services for the most vulnerable cannot function effectively in the market. And once privatized, they are extremely difficult to bring back under public control.
This is not ideology. It is experience.
Norway can choose a different path
Norway has built one of the most just social models in the world. But today it stands at a crossroads.
If it chooses to reduce taxes for the wealthy, regional inequalities will grow, public services will be strained and social cohesion will erode.
But if it chooses justice, it will strengthen the resilience of society, protect its regions and set an example for all of Europe.
The Europe we deserve
As a Greek who has seen what it means for societies to bear the cost of crises, I believe Norway has a historic opportunity, to show that a European country can choose social justice even in a time of war and uncertainty.
Because real security is not built through tax cuts for the powerful. It is built through social cohesion, fair taxation and policies that put people at the centre.
And that is the Europe we deserve. A Europe for the people.
