The publication is by and large an update of previous publications, but Chapter 6 has been restructured considerably in that a description of the common traits of the pensions is given. Section 2 concerns cash benefits and services to old-age pensioners, and section 3 concerns cash benefits and services to the disabled, while section 4 deals with cash benefits and services to surviving relatives.

In Chapter 1, the most important changes in the economic policies and the social policies since the previous publication of Social Protection in the Nordic Countries are illustrated. In Chapter 2, an account is given of the demographic and income-related factors. Cash benefits and services to families and children are dealt with in Chapter 3, whereas Chapters 4 and 5 illustrate benefits in connection with unemployment and illness, respectively. Chapter 6 concerns benefits and services to the elderly, the disabled and surviving relatives, while housing benefits to families and pensioners are described in Chapter 7. Social benefits not covered by the rules illustrated in the previous chapters, are dealt with in Chapter 8. In Chapter 9, an overview of the scope and financing of the total social expenditure is given.

In November 2009, NOSOSCO published the annual theme on De nordiske pensionssystemer opmunter de 60-74-årige til at arbejde (NOSOSKO 38; 2009). An English translation is expected to be available in February 2010. The book is available both in printed form and on this homepage.

In the report, initiatives are described that may affect the supply of labour among the 60-74-year-olds. The report describes typical withdrawal routes, their use, and how different typical persons are compensated in connection with full or part withdrawal from the labour market.

Initiatives to stimulate people in the Nordic countries to work are varied and depend on the basic organization of the system. But the result of the organization of all the systems is that the coverage increases the longer one waits to withdraw from the labour market. In return, there are differences in the coverage across income groups. The report describes the differences and similarities in the Nordic systems entailing this result.

In 2007, NOSOSCO received a special grant towards illustrating the challenges which the Nordic welfare states are faced with in the future (A description of the project can be found on this homepage at http://nososco-da.nom-nos.dk/default.asp?side=224

The Norwegian version: Udfordringer for den nordiske velferdsstaten - sammenlignbare indikatorer ( NOSOSKO 41: 2009) was published in October 2009, and a translation into English is expected to be published mid-April 2010 at the latest.

The report describes how the Nordic welfare states face several challenges in the years to come. In the report, some of these challenges are presented, and an attempt has been made to develop indicators that may contribute to illustrating these challenges.

In Chapter 1, we look at different welfare models, and in Chapter 2, we look at which challenges can be identified. In the following chapters, we demonstrate indicators and analyze the various challenges. Chapter 3 touches on the expenditure of the welfare state, while demographic changes are discussed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with education, and in Chapter 6 we take a look at income distribution and social exclusion. Different aspects of the labour market are described in Chapter 7. Here we look at different forms of weak connections with the labour market, as well as work activities among seniors. In Chapter 8, we describe health, and finally Chapter 9 concerns housing where we take a look at standard, economy and housing environment.

At the NOSOSCO planning meeting held on 4 December 2009 in Copenhagen, it was decided to hold a follow-up conference on 27 April 2010 in Oslo.

The 2010 theme was also discussed and will be problems concerning vulnerable groups' connection with the labour market.

Meetings
NOSOSCO´s annual plenary session was held in Iceland, August 2009. The next plenary session will be held in August 2010 in Denmark.