Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data

This study examines International Social Survey Programme data from the 1999 social inequality module for evidence of Janteloven (‘the law of Jante’) in Norway – a widely known though often disputed description for aspects of Norwegian (and Scandinavian) society relating to equality, norming and env...

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Main Author: Daniel R. PALAMARA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Economic Studies (ASE) 2016-06-01
Series:European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejist.ro/files/pdf/407.pdf
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author Daniel R. PALAMARA
author_facet Daniel R. PALAMARA
author_sort Daniel R. PALAMARA
collection DOAJ
description This study examines International Social Survey Programme data from the 1999 social inequality module for evidence of Janteloven (‘the law of Jante’) in Norway – a widely known though often disputed description for aspects of Norwegian (and Scandinavian) society relating to equality, norming and envy. Income equality and social status were examined using survey data across 26 countries. Norwegian respondents did not show a marked preference for income equality when asked to consider the actual and deserved income of high- versus low-status occupations. However, they did stand out in reporting a distinctly and significantly smaller mean difference in social status between a high-status occupation (the chairman of a large national corporation) and a low-status occupation (an unskilled factory worker). Linear regression shows that the attitude towards social status is affected by the respondent’s level of education, but not by other personal factors. These attitudes could potentially be attributed to Janteloven, and are considered alongside the results of a small (n=30) online survey as well as popular media and academic portrayals.
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spelling doaj.art-4f251c99b0e34173a355d80b463eaff82022-12-21T20:12:41ZengAcademy of Economic Studies (ASE)European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies2067-37952016-06-0181121Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality DataDaniel R. PALAMARAThis study examines International Social Survey Programme data from the 1999 social inequality module for evidence of Janteloven (‘the law of Jante’) in Norway – a widely known though often disputed description for aspects of Norwegian (and Scandinavian) society relating to equality, norming and envy. Income equality and social status were examined using survey data across 26 countries. Norwegian respondents did not show a marked preference for income equality when asked to consider the actual and deserved income of high- versus low-status occupations. However, they did stand out in reporting a distinctly and significantly smaller mean difference in social status between a high-status occupation (the chairman of a large national corporation) and a low-status occupation (an unskilled factory worker). Linear regression shows that the attitude towards social status is affected by the respondent’s level of education, but not by other personal factors. These attitudes could potentially be attributed to Janteloven, and are considered alongside the results of a small (n=30) online survey as well as popular media and academic portrayals.http://www.ejist.ro/files/pdf/407.pdfJantelovensurveyequalitysocial statusNorway
spellingShingle Daniel R. PALAMARA
Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Janteloven
survey
equality
social status
Norway
title Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
title_full Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
title_fullStr Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
title_full_unstemmed Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
title_short Social Status in Norway and the Law of Jante: An Analysis of ISSP Social Inequality Data
title_sort social status in norway and the law of jante an analysis of issp social inequality data
topic Janteloven
survey
equality
social status
Norway
url http://www.ejist.ro/files/pdf/407.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT danielrpalamara socialstatusinnorwayandthelawofjanteananalysisofisspsocialinequalitydata