Denmark: The Happiest Country On Earth

[Fredjan]

Denmark's total population is merely 5.6 million. That's less than that of Mexico City, the god damned Mexican capital.

[Sunshine]

Yup, we're a small kingdom

[Gelardi]

Just saw this and it hits the spot perfectly..

"KT: Denmark is famous for having so much less income inequality; do kitchen workers in Danish restaurants make a decent salary?

TH: Yes, a dishwasher in Denmark gets $25 an hour.
KT: Do they get sick days and benefits, too?
TH: Yes, and a pension, and health care, and maternity leave. To me, the more equal your society is, the better it is for everybody. It's not right for a country as rich as yours to have so many poor people. This thing with Americans and taxes, I don't understand it.
I make quite a lot of money, I pay 67% tax on much of it, and I don't mind. I like the idea that the girl who's sitting next to my daughter, whose mother is a cleaning lady, has exactly the same opportunity to get an education that my daughter has. I don't think that's socialism. To me, that's human decency. That girl didn't choose her parents, why shouldn't she have the same opportunities?"

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kerry-...b_1000928.html

[Txebe]

Just saw this and it hits the spot perfectly..

"KT: Denmark is famous for having so much less income inequality; do kitchen workers in Danish restaurants make a decent salary?

TH: Yes, a dishwasher in Denmark gets $25 an hour.
KT: Do they get sick days and benefits, too?
TH: Yes, and a pension, and health care, and maternity leave. To me, the more equal your society is, the better it is for everybody. It's not right for a country as rich as yours to have so many poor people. This thing with Americans and taxes, I don't understand it.
I make quite a lot of money, I pay 67% tax on much of it, and I don't mind. I like the idea that the girl who's sitting next to my daughter, whose mother is a cleaning lady, has exactly the same opportunity to get an education that my daughter has. I don't think that's socialism. To me, that's human decency. That girl didn't choose her parents, why shouldn't she have the same opportunities?"

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kerry-...b_1000928.html

Really? Outstanding. My country leads the worst EU rankings about job conditions and education, very sad

[FJV]

Having only a few million people versus tens or over a hundred million certainly makes all the difference. Nonetheless sign me up please!

^THIS!!

I really think u have to take this into account, ALOT. And is not only about the smaller portion of people but of land too.

Some states here in Mexico are WAY bigger that most Europeans country.

[Gelardi]

^THIS!!

I really think u have to take this into account, ALOT. And is not only about the smaller portion of people but of land too.

Some states here in Mexico are WAY bigger that most Europeans country.

This is an answer I've seen quite a lot and the argument might be pretty good, but then I can't stop but think... Well why don't you split up into smaller countries then? If that is all it takes to achieve happiness, then why not? Therefore I don't think the argument is that great.

[Darren]

This is an answer I've seen quite a lot and the argument might be pretty good, but then I can't stop but think... Well why don't you split up into smaller countries then? If that is all it takes to achieve happiness, then why not? Therefore I don't think the argument is that great.

They haven't because in trying to do so you reveal deeper problems, we don't like looking in the mirror when it doesn't show a pretty picture.

It takes a lot of strength to break status quo and address internal problems, why? It shifts the balance of power & control. It takes a rare individual / group to voluntarily make concessions in the name of equality. Either something else is in play or Danes embody a rare spirit which others haven't had the strength to cultivate.

[FJV]

This is an answer I've seen quite a lot and the argument might be pretty good, but then I can't stop but think... Well why don't you split up into smaller countries then? If that is all it takes to achieve happiness, then why not? Therefore I don't think the argument is that great.

History, breaking everything for what people fought all around during years. No country was made in decades and u gotta respect ur past.

On the other hand i do agree, smaller lands and fewer people are way easier to keep and eye for everything (justice, services, etc...) but its pretty fuking hard to split a countr.

[Alex E]

Smaller "countries" can be achieved by implementing largely autonomous states I think?

[IBankkid]

I'm not promoting it for other countries at all. Well a bit to America as they still have that whole Communism is BAD Mmmmkaaaaay!?
No it's not, it actually functions rather well and actually fulfill the ultimate goal of a government: Having happy citizens.

Denmark has the Nordic model of economy which is not heavily entity dependent on very few sectors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Denmark
The same is with Germany which is exporter/ heavy industry based and finance based:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany

America has largely shifted to finance based economy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financialization

America can afford the level of debt because the dollar is a global currency.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/com...m-a-us-default

That alone should tell you something.

The culture that danish have with american culture is like comparing day and night, not only you cant emulate but it is recipe for disaster. The same with Japanese culture.

Second thing is Denmark has the strongest immigration laws and most strict in the world which keeps those benefits for it's own.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...mmigrants.html
Remove those laws and lets see how well socialism will work. America has very relaxed immigration policies and and even without they have don't have the same population structure. Denmark population is largely danish. Which explains another thing regarding affordability in high minimum wages and dependency:
The labor participation rate in Denmark vs american 63.6 percent. Danish have a culture of working and investing in education rather than being dependent despite all offered.

America has all kind of ethnics which plays a role. Many are very dependent on the state.Another thing the population of Denmark is 5.59 millions, the population of America 313.9 millions. Think of having half of it of dependent on the state what kind of problem will it create in the economy as whole. Think of taxing 60% in wage Cap people who study which is middle class and the upper middle class and work which by the way is being squeezed already bail outs and so on, so 50% of the rest can enjoy doing nothing and basically have no correlation with each other. Majority that contribute to the economy will leave. The best example is France example, raising taxes in France following populist polices/politics what has lead to :

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101300969

http://www.dw.de/downgraded-france-h...ems/a-17237248

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sses-away.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/1...t-farrage.html

With Hollande polices with global recession, basically France economy is fucked. Faces high unemployment, massive debt, lack of innovation, lack of heavy industry,lack of competitive education, high taxes which drive the investor out, those who contribute to the economy, high wages that are noncompetitive in global world, or sticky wages:
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/...age-theory.asp
high unfounded pensions,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensions_in_France
everything that should go wrong is wrong. And will get even more because they will head to another extremity. Hollande which is Machiavellian politician/ opportunist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_opportunism
at very last following this populist politics has messed France so much that are protest all the time. Hollande is kinda like the clown here obama. The only difference is Obama offset the taxes from the middle class to "help" poor and help the very rich party donors /finance sector/ alternative energy sectors lobbyist/ Biopharma lobby/ and to certain degree Tech lobbylist

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...yist-industry1
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/...old-washington


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-2...-paris/5220166

If anything all America and England are in same place with France faces the same structural problems France have and has very similar systems. The only that keeps America and England afloat is being financial leaders of the world, especially England which has to much social dependencies is heavily dependent on financials sector and lacks in other industries.


If you know anything of economics come back at me. HP post is garbage journalism is biased and politicized and with that article they want to push own agenda. Want real journalism look at unbiased sources.

[bryanphillips]

Yes i appreciate the rates which are offered in Denmark are bit less than others which can compel to say that Denmark is a Happiest Country of the Earth.

[IBankkid]

I believe you that Denmark is a great countrie to life in - same applies for Germany imo. However what you have to know is that you are living in a rich country that can afford such a welfare system! This isnt the case for most other countries, so promoting this model that it should be applied in other countries aswell is quite nonsense. What is needed first of all is an economy that works, otherwise there will be no money for the government that can be transfered. And this is what most left-wing orientated politicans doesnt seem to understand. Instead they believe "taking money from the rich" is the solution - no its not, this idea massively failed long time ago so im wondering why there are still so many discussions about it. Dont get me wrong though, ofcourse taxes are nesseary and people who have more can pay more - but it has to be balanced out in a proper way! Taking to much money from the people (including the "rich ones") does affect a countries economy in a negativ way, resulting in less money that can be transfered to the people who need it.

Well said. Also American liberalism/democracy mainstream politics are so idiotic, majority of political junkies who follow it are pseudo intellectuals median people with no clue of economics. In fact no one of those who promote it has any idea of economics it totally baffles me very few know macro economics and geopolitics yet they want to copy some European countries. Germany has a very competitive economy also and is very dynamic. Is one of the most competitive economies in advanced economies on industrial sector, and finance/service sectors and the most export based model in EU. http://www.economist.com/node/21552567 GINI in Germany is higher than many countries but is because is very competitive and dynamic economy [ also German workers are more competitive compared to many other counterparts] and at same time they manage to have a protectionist economy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany http://www.libsdebunked.com/socialis...lism-argument/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_economics

[Gelardi]

Denmark has the Nordic model of economy which is not heavily entity dependent on very few sectors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Denmark
The same is with Germany which is exporter/ heavy industry based and finance based:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany

America has largely shifted to finance based economy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financialization

America can afford the level of debt because the dollar is a global currency.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/com...m-a-us-default

That alone should tell you something.

The culture that danish have with american culture is like comparing day and night, not only you cant emulate but it is recipe for disaster. The same with Japanese culture.

Second thing is Denmark has the strongest immigration laws and most strict in the world which keeps those benefits for it's own.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...mmigrants.html
Remove those laws and lets see how well socialism will work. America has very relaxed immigration policies and and even without they have don't have the same population structure. Denmark population is largely danish. Which explains another thing regarding affordability in high minimum wages and dependency:
The labor participation rate in Denmark vs american 63.6 percent. Danish have a culture of working and investing in education rather than being dependent despite all offered.

America has all kind of ethnics which plays a role. Many are very dependent on the state.Another thing the population of Denmark is 5.59 millions, the population of America 313.9 millions. Think of having half of it of dependent on the state what kind of problem will it create in the economy as whole. Think of taxing 60% in wage Cap people who study which is middle class and the upper middle class and work which by the way is being squeezed already bail outs and so on, so 50% of the rest can enjoy doing nothing and basically have no correlation with each other. Majority that contribute to the economy will leave. The best example is France example, raising taxes in France following populist polices/politics what has lead to :

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101300969

http://www.dw.de/downgraded-france-h...ems/a-17237248

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sses-away.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/1...t-farrage.html

With Hollande polices with global recession, basically France economy is fucked. Faces high unemployment, massive debt, lack of innovation, lack of heavy industry,lack of competitive education, high taxes which drive the investor out, those who contribute to the economy, high wages that are noncompetitive in global world, or sticky wages:
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/...age-theory.asp
high unfounded pensions,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensions_in_France
everything that should go wrong is wrong. And will get even more because they will head to another extremity. Hollande which is Machiavellian politician/ opportunist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_opportunism
at very last following this populist politics has messed France so much that are protest all the time. Hollande is kinda like the clown here obama. The only difference is Obama offset the taxes from the middle class to "help" poor and help the very rich party donors /finance sector/ alternative energy sectors lobbyist/ Biopharma lobby/ and to certain degree Tech lobbylist

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...yist-industry1
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/...old-washington


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-2...-paris/5220166

If anything all America and England are in same place with France faces the same structural problems France have and has very similar systems. The only that keeps America and England afloat is being financial leaders of the world, especially England which has to much social dependencies is heavily dependent on financials sector and lacks in other industries.


If you know anything of economics come back at me. HP post is garbage journalism is biased and politicized and with that article they want to push own agenda. Want real journalism look at unbiased sources.

Never did I say Denmark can be compared to the US, and never did I say anything about economics (Especially not about France, GB or the US's economics), I simply spoke about the ideologies we utilize here in Denmark which are pretty much demonized in the US as "nazi" and what not. About if the HP post is biased, maybe.. But it is based on a very recent UN report on 'World Happiness' which does give it some sort of credibility.

[Thijs]

I didn't know ppl are able to measure happiness.

[IBankkid]

Never did I say Denmark can be compared to the US, and never did I say anything about economics (Especially not about France, GB or the US's economics), I simply spoke about the ideologies we utilize here in Denmark which are pretty much demonized in the US as "nazi" and what not. About if the HP post is biased, maybe.. But it is based on a very recent UN report on 'World Happiness' which does give it some sort of credibility.

You said "Well a bit to America as they still have that whole Communism is BAD Mmmmkaaaaay!?"
I explained why they cannot emulate it and I'm explaining Ideologies without economy polices are bound to fail are just empty bad politics and can f your economy. You compared taxes in your country and I explained in america if something like that happen taxing at 60% in wage cap or payroll tax would make doctors and anybody in vital fields leave the country as and seriously impair R&D and the economy. The education in america is impaired enough from idiotic liberal policies and massive corruption.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/03/business/la-fi-mo-us-students-math-reading-20131203
They have created a non competitive system with unions which favor employees vs education. They are living in fucking 60, unions are corrupt and play favoritism politics basically allow the worst of teachers to be and those that should never had that job. The political system in america who support them is even more corrupt and the reason they create shit polices in lower and middle education. Teachers and Unions vote /support democrats so the vicious cycle keeps going politicians get political power while teachers and unions enjoy bureaucratic immunity. The higher education was business based and based on realistic demand prior the 70/80's which is why the american higher education is among the best, but at same time is fucked now because shifted from education sector to business/ creating artificial demand than responding to demand in the economy. The bachelor diploma is example of that. Till yesterday everyone with a bachelor could get into anything thanks to the artificial demand created by post crisis economy/ fire economy.Just an example of trying to emulate European socialism selective polices not full in education and basically creating shit policies. If they want to emulate Europe they should check Finland education and evolution in education in 70's from shit education to being the top, where every teacher has a master diploma came out of university and out of thousand candidates only few make it vs in america where basically not only they keep shit teachers by they shield behind corrupt unions also they promote shit teachers by allowing anyone with a bachelor to become a teacher even out of community colleges:



https://edpolicy.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/publications/secret-finland%E2%80%99s-success-educating-teachers.pdf

Finland gave importance in the 70s reform to the key Stem fields like mathematics and chemistry while american liberals focused on liberal arts and today on pseudo science / soft science and of course anyone could become a teacher. That's why are so fucking ignorant, poor population and to a certain extent some middle class and even some emigrants among the poor blow in hard science mathematics chemistry, they glorify idiotic shit, and both today also liberals and poor glorify political connected science while hard science that is needed for global competition is left behind. Watering down those requirements for teachers and creating a corrupt mess of shit. Americans use to lead in hard science education in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_science


A 60% payroll tax would be f disaster and impact education in higher education also.
Creating a dependent country is just destroying the economy and is f enough since they switched fully to a Fire economy or to a modern neoliberal economy/Chicago school of thought/ they have created a dysfunctional capitalism with to many bubbles and too interventionist. Who would get squeezed at 60 % is middle class to support lowers classes and the very high and that is already happening with bailouts and all the rest of polices.

Second I lived in communist country and communism failed badly. There is huge difference between communism and socialism.China model is hybrid is political communist or by structure of politics but in the economy is full capitalist and protectionist and that's why they are the only one succeeding. They also switching from export based to services based and propping their own consumer economy thus they still have room to maneuver.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2014-02/11/c_133107221.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_economic_reform

Nordic model is not communist is socialist and was all the time.In fact with Denmark case they employ to certain extent a direct democracy if you want to go with political side in emigration case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy

The rest of European socialist countries form other side are failure they have no economy to back it up and are very dependent on services, that's why it cannot be emulated. Nordic models of economy follow a very dynamic model, also the economy as whole is not dependent heavily in one sector.

Actually many Americans admire the German model and the Nordic economy, I explained why from political prescriptive cant be emulated for america because is too diverse, the population numbers are also not comparable, and everything cultural wise is different which lead to many things.
From the economic point america is to dependent on service sectors and has shifted to finance based is still leading in other sectors in world but finance is what is driving the economy,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_States
being socialist as you say they would end up in same status many of south European countries ended with dysfunctional systems soon or latter. And this is the simplified version america faces many problems. They can maneuver with debt as long as the dollar is global dominant currency and are financial leader of the world. Also many American companies in others sectors already face global competition is not significant but is just the start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRE_economy



The HP are not only biased but have very distinct political agenda behind when they publish the article so no is not the best source to your info. Perhaps you need to read the full research how the UN bases happiness first.
http://issuu.com/earthinstitute/docs...ort2013_online

Regarding the selective politics/ populist politics that HP promotes is exactly why america is in the position that it is and has some of among the most corrupted politicians in the world. They they focus in populist politics while supporting the same politicians that are Machiavellian politicians/ opportunist.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/co...?cid=N00009638
http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/