Reform and Responsibility in the Remaking of the Swedish National Pension System

Reform and Responsibility in the Remaking of the Swedish National Pension System

Reform and Responsibility in the Remaking of the Swedish National Pension System Opening the Orange Envelope Anette Nyqvist

REFORM AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REMAKING OF THE SWEDISH NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM Copyright Anette Nyqvist 2016 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2016 978-1-137-55239-6 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission. In accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First published 2016 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN The author has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of Nature America, Inc., One New York Plaza, Suite 4500, New York, NY 10004-1562. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. ISBN: 978-1-349-57085-0 E-PDF ISBN: 978 1 137 55240 2 DOI: 10.1057/9781137552402 Distribution in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Nyqvist, Anette, author. Title: Reform and responsibility in the remaking of the Swedish national pension system : opening the orange envelope / Anette Nyqvist. Description: New York, NY : Palgrave Macmillan, 2016. Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2015024454 Subjects: LCSH: Pensions Government policy Sweden. Pension trusts Sweden. Social security Political aspects Sweden. Public administration Sweden. Political sociology. BISAC: LAW / Pension Law. SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural. SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gerontology. SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Services. Classification: LCC HD7203.N97 2016 DDC 331.25/2209485 dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015024454 A catalogue record for the book is available from the British Library.

For Alexandra, Isidor, and Cornelia

Warm red, intensified by yellow, produces Orange. Through this admixture, the movement of red becomes the nucleus of the impulse, spreading out towards the spectator. The element of red, which plays a great part in orange, retains the accompanying note of its usual gravity. It is like a human being, aware of his own power and emanating happiness and health Kandinsky (1946: 71)

Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments 1 Insecurity as Incentive in Social Security Policy 1 2 The Politics of Pensions 31 3 The Swedish Reform A Radical Compromise 49 4 The Technological Relocation of Responsibility 79 5 Governance through an Orange Messenger 107 6 Voices of the Governed 129 7 Orange Agency and Insecurity 155 Notes 167 References 179 Index 201 ix xi

Figures 4.1 The Swedish Pension Agency 2013 95

Acknowledgments Many people and institutions have over time contributed to the development of this work. First and foremost, I owe thanks to Professor Christina Garsten, my former supervisor who I continue to learn from, in so many ways. Thank you for your continuous encouragement and support. Throughout the years I have divided my time and work between the Department of Social Anthropology and Stockholm Center for Organizational Research, both at Stockholm University. A collective and warm thank you to everyone at the department and at Score. I also want to especially thank Professor Emeritus Ulf Hannerz, Professor Douglas Holmes, Professor Jamie Peck, Professor Cris Shore, Professor Janine Wedel, Professor Susan Wright, Professor Helena Wulff, and Assistant Professor Melissa Fisher for providing invaluable comments on this work at different stages. For the main part the PhD project was financed with research funding from the Social Insurance Agency Board of Research. I also received grants from the funds of Namowitsky and Rhodin at Stockholm University, as well as contributions from the Department of Social Anthropology and Stockholm Center for Organizational Research, both at Stockholm University.