Nordic Countries"You go to Scandinavia, and you will find that people have a much higher standard of living, in terms of education, health care, and decent paying jobs." Bernie Sanders (1/9/2010) Despite recent difficulties, Sweden and the other Nordic countries still offer the most promising alternative approach to the solution of basic human problems. It is very unlikely, for example, that the planet's environment will ever be safe from human beings unless they learn to conduct their affairs according to the principles of co-operation and solidarity on which the Nordic model of society is based. In attempting to decipher the human shape of the future, therefore, the fate of Sweden may well provide some valuable clues. The Price of Everything Having all three of its most prominent constituent nations (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) among the 25 safest countries in the world, Scandinavia has to be considered the safest region. The fact that Iceland and Finland are also on the list, this means that out of the 25 safest countries in the world, 5 are located in the Nordic countries. Considering the intentional homicide rate averages from across these five countries, the regional rate is 0.8 annual incidences per 100,000 inhabitants. Compared to the already mentioned low rates across the continent, Scandinavia’s homicide rates stand at around merely a quarter of those seen across Europe. Scandinavia also appears to have some of the happiest people on the planet. “Smoothly functioning and comprehensive health insurance, a full year of partially paid disability leave, nearly a full year of paid parental leave for each child and a smaller monthly benefit for an additional two years (should I or the father of my child choose to stay at home longer with our child), affordable high-quality day care, one of the world’s best K-12 education systems, free college and free graduate school.” Anu Partanen THE NORDIC THEORY OF EVERYTHING. Our per-capita spending for public media currently stands at about $1.63 a citizen a year, while Finland and Denmark spend seventy and eighty times that amount. This lack of direct government sponsorship opens a widening space for corporate underwriting, despite the compromising and sometimes overtly censoring effects of this strategy." The People's Platform, Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age: Astra Taylor p217 Report finds Finns are happiest; U.S. not even in top 10 (3/19/2021)World's Top 4 Happiest Countries Are All Nordic — Here's WhyWorld Happiness ReportViking Love: The Economist Gets It Wrong (2/8/2013)Here are quotes from the Nordic Theory of Everything, In Search of a Better Life: Anu Partanen which show benefits of good government. "[In Finland] My tax form had been one page long, and came prefilled with my earnings and taxes paid, including the calculations for amounts owed or refunded. My job was simply to check that everything was correct and amend it if needed. During my years as a salaried employee, I mostly just looked it over and did nothing." "Finland’s child poverty rate under 5 percent, the lowest of all rich countries. By contrast the child poverty rate in the US comes close to a shocking 25 percent ... nearly a quarter of children. Out of all the countries that UNICEF surveyed, the US was actually next to last. Only Romania fared worse." Scandinavians, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have created the most successful governments in the world with comprehensive social support, modern infrastructure, excellent standard of living, and the happiest people. Trade unions are strong, and people’s assembly's rule. According to Transparency.org Scandinavian countries are the least corrupt. Scandinavians rightfully can trust their government. The Nordic ModelThe Nordic Approach To General WelfareNordic Labor JournalBibliographyThe Nordic Theory of Everything, In Search or a Better Life: Anu Partanen Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland ? By Pasi Sahlberg The
Smartest Kids in the World: Amanda Ripley See this review. |