The meanings of the Nordic model have varied over time and in different contexts. The term was used to refer to the policies of the social democratic parties which dominated Scandinavia during the post-war era. From the late twentieth century it has been used as a marketing tool for branding the region as well as an academic term for economists and social scientists. The ‘Nordic model’ often refers to the comprehensive welfare state financed by high levels of taxation. But while the Nordic countries do share common political and economic features, there are also key differences, meaning it may be more accurate to talk about Nordic models in the plural.