This Website uses cookies. By using this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies and to the terms and conditions listed in our data protection policy. Read more

Journal of Economic Policy Reform

The End of a Trend? Retraction of Choice in Swedish Elderly Care

Journal Article
Reference
Jordahl, Henrik and Lovisa Persson (2021). “The End of a Trend? Retraction of Choice in Swedish Elderly Care”. Journal of Economic Policy Reform 24(2), 189–200. doi.org/10.1080/17487870.2020.1746660

Authors
Henrik Jordahl, Lovisa Persson

In 2009, Sweden launched a freedom-of-choice reform that gave municipalities the option to introduce standardized quasi-markets in social services. The reform was initially popular to adopt in home care until the share of adopting municipalities leveled out just above 50 percent. In recent years, the trend has reversed, and several municipalities have abolished their choice system. Compared with municipalities with choice systems, the abolishing municipalities are more rural with fewer inhabitants. A fixed-effects regression suggests that decreases in the market share of private providers, political shifts towards the left, and increasing costs are related to the abolition of choice systems.