To quote:

Nor has high taxation in the Nordic countries impeded economic performance. Rather than relying mainly on income taxation, as in the US, the Nordic countries rely on value-added taxation, which provides a relatively high amount of revenue with relatively low rates of evasion and few distortions to the economy.

The Nordic experience also belies conservatives' claim that a large social welfare state weakens incentives to work and save. National saving in the Nordic countries averages more than 20 percent of national income, compared to around 10 percent in the US

But we have to add in the inbuilt  Calvinist/Lutheran work morale

But how replicable are the Nordic successes? These countries have small populations, easy access to international trade, natural resources, and peaceful neighbours. Most notably, they are ethnically homogeneous, so that social divisions are more amenable to compromise. However, this means that the challenge of maintaining a strong social welfare state in ethnically and racially diverse societies such as the US is not economic, but one of promoting respect and inclusiveness

espect and inclusiveness -right on!

You can't be me, I'm taken

Good find.  Thanks.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

I don't have the figures, but while we can't compete with you wackos (and please take that in an affectionate sense), we Norsemen do have a certain reputation on the continent for prodigious binge drinking. This despite the odds being stacked against us by an unholy alliance of social-democratic paternalists and pietist loons.

I'm talking here about £30-50 a pint and £40-50 for a decent single malt.

But you know Sven, unless we drop this subject (and yes, I am aware that I raised it), we'll be at risk from the air marshall, not for the first time.

So I'll pour myself one instead, and dream of Helsinki.

The world's northernmost desert wind.

...meaning to the question "Got Wood?" :)

Have Keyboard. Will Travel. :)