zlacker

>>obscur+(OP)
> Norwegians are taking much more sick leave than a decade ago, driving up costs for health services. Student test scores have worsened more than in other Scandinavian countries

...COVID?

Norwegians are taking more sick leave after the largest mass-disabling event in generations?

And test scores are worse compared to other Scandinavian countries, like Sweden, which famously had very few COVID restrictions?

Must be the oil money

>>Steven+W2
It doesn't even need to be COVID. I think this graph alone explains most of the changes: https://www.populationpyramid.net/norway/2024/

A growing segment of aging people will bring more medical/care expenses, covered by relatively fewer working people. The fairer a social security system is, the more the expenses will change once the population pyramid shifts.