ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Norway. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Norway. Even though Norway is the world's second largest oil exporter, many Norwegians complained of high taxes and inadequate public services under the Labor Party and showed their discontent in the national elections in September. Norwegians can change their government democratically. The Storting is directly elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage and proportional representation. The Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions, established 100 years ago, has about 850,000 members and is closely linked to the Labor Party. According to the International Labor Organization, Norwegian employees put in, on average, fewer hours at work than other Europeans.
