Associate professor in social policy, Oslo and Akershus University College. Van der Wel has done research on social inequalities in health, employment and employment commitment, and the role of welfare policy. His research interests also include living conditions among longterm social assistance recipients and register-data research on inequalities in a life-course perspective. kjetil.wel@hioa.no Espen DahlProfessor in health and social policy, Oslo and Akershus University College. Dahl's research interests are comparative research on health inequalities, welfare and labour markets. Heidi BergsliResearcher, Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. ABSTRACTThe Norwegian strategy for reducing health inequalities from 2007 has been recognised as one of the most ambitious and encompassing in Europe. By proposing action on the social determinants of health, such as income structure, employment opportunities and affordable child-care, the strategy was able to approach the entire social gradient rather than just the socially disadvantaged. In this article, we present the main features of the health equity strategy, and discuss possible obstacles to a successful implementation and a prolonged commitment to reducing health inequalities in Norway. We raise three major concerns: 1) a stubborn fundamental inequality structure, 2) a lack of focus on the gradient in the implementation of cross-sectoral reforms and 3) a possible re-orientation of policy away from redistribution and universalism.
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