Some basic welfare measures for combating poverty: lessons from a formerly poor country

Abstract

Poverty alleviation is mainly about redistribution of economic, social and politicalresources, and all forms of redistribution carry a built-in conflict potential.However, there are political and social means available to contain such conflicts.Some of these means are discussed through a presentation of the historical developmentof Norway from a poverty ridden country to a wealthy country whereredistributive measures dominate the economic and social life of a modern welfarestate.