1. Arne’s pension

The twin ogres behind most social challenges are ageing and inequality. Battling the first can create new problems with the second. In Britain, for example, jacking up the age for pension benefits has meant subjecting poorer 60-somethings to the punishing Jobseeker’s Allowance regime.

Denmark’s Social Democrats turned Arne Juhl, a bulky brewery worker of four decades’ standing, into an argument for change. Carting barrels around—or for that matter hoisting patients in and out of bed—takes a slow toll unmatched in desk jobs: Arne ended up with bad knees. The party resolved to cut physical grafters some slack from the wider rise in retirement ages. Nu er det Arnes tur— “It’s Arne’s turn now”—proved a winning slogan.

In practice, it’s hard to specify exactly what constitutes “toil.” Demanding that doctors certify industrial wear and tear would have denied the right to an earlier retirement to those still in good health. Instead, the reform focuses on “years in the labour market” (including spells out for childcare). It means people who have worked at least 42, 43 or 44 years by the age of 61 are able to get their money one, two or three years ahead, respectively, of the general retirement age of 67. Slogging from their teens, while other Danes were at college, the likes of Arne pass the test.

A special finance tax covers the policy. There has been vast interest, with 30,000 applications received before it went live in January. And putting fairness back at the heart of pensions could, potentially, make future increases in the main pension age, which are likely as people live longer, easier for citizens to accept.