Economic Effects of the Labor Movement - Work Time, Social Insurance, and Living Standards

PhD defence by Marius Fredagsvik Gunnesmo

Assessment Committee

Professor Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, University of Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Lecturer Alan de Bromhead, University College Dublin
Professor Magnus Bergli Rasmussen, University of South Eastern Norway

Supervisors

Professor Casper Worm Hansen

Department

Department of Economics

Place

Building: Building 26, Room: 26-2-21, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 Copenhagen K

Email address to gain access to the thesis: mfg@econ.ku.dk.
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.

Recipients of copies of the thesis are not allowed to share or distribute it due to copyright compliance.

Short description of the thesis

The Danish labor movement of the early twentieth century has been important in shaping many of the economic policies we take for granted in Denmark today. From the way we work to the way we live, this thesis looks at crucial reforms in the history of the Danish labor movement, and the intentional and unintentional effects they had on the lives of people affected by them.

The first chapter investigates the eight-hour workday and its effect on income and employment. The second chapter studies how a temporary change to the unemployment-insurance system might have strengthened worker organization. The third chapter focuses on housing associations and how they might have contributed to reducing mortality by infectious disease.