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Constructing certainty through public budgeting: budgetary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland, Norway and Sweden

Daniela Argento (Department of Business, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden) (SNF Center for Applied Research, Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen, Norway)
Katarina Kaarbøe (Department of Accounting, Auditing and Law, SNF Center for Applied Research, Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen, Norway)
Jarmo Vakkuri (Faculty of Management, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland)

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management

ISSN: 1096-3367

Article publication date: 21 October 2020

Issue publication date: 24 November 2020

3084

Abstract

Purpose

This paper provides a reflective comparison of the budgetary implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for three Nordic countries: Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

By drawing from the notion of ambiguity and constructions of certainty, this study analyzes the most relevant budgetary allocations and packages implemented by the governments of Finland, Norway and Sweden in response to the COVID-19 crisis using empirical documentary data.

Findings

Influenced by the need to save citizens' lives and protect the economy, the three countries have interpreted the COVID-19 threat in different ways. While Finland and Norway seem to be fighting a war against the virus, Sweden appears to view COVID-19 as an exceptionally difficult flu. These different perspectives are reflected in the strategies and budgetary responses implemented in the three countries.

Originality/value

By elaborating on the ambiguities of reality, causality and intentionality, this paper shows how the budgeting mindset aimed at creating certainties among citizens varies among the Nordic countries, which are generally assumed to be similar.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work was supported by the Academy of Finland, Grant number 326525 (Jarmo Vakkuri) and the research project Digital Business, financed by Equinor (Daniela Argento and Katarina Kaarbøe).

Citation

Argento, D., Kaarbøe, K. and Vakkuri, J. (2020), "Constructing certainty through public budgeting: budgetary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland, Norway and Sweden", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 875-887. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-07-2020-0093

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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