Hell, most of these kinds of policies were enacted on the outset of WWII, not exactly a time of greatness and plenty. For an other example, the UK enacted the NHS just a few years after the war ended.

Funnily enough it was an Iraqi immigrant that was involved in that effort.

> Norway was one of the poorest countries in Europe

Norwegian GNP per capita was among the top in Europe from the early 20th century and on.

The wealth was unevenly distributed, wages were low and there was poverty, but the country wasn't poor.