Quote:
Originally Posted by esspoker
If you're referring to the northern-European countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, yes they are called by some "socialist democracies." I know Bernie used that term. But as I understand them, and I've met people from those countires, and have researched it a bit, they are free market economies at their core. They're just capitalist + high taxes. Most of them are also small countries with excess capital from oil windfalls and generally have smooth sailing and few cultural problems (incoming muslims has created some issues of late). Another problem they're having, from what I'm told, is a growing class of drug addicts and welfare recipients who don't have the incentive to work.
In any case the term socialism is usually used quite loosely.
I was pondering to at some point make an anecdotal description of Scandinavian economy / politics / policy. I think it can be more illustrative to many than pouring historical facts and numbers. Perhaps there is a forum interest for it as well, since they often tend to come up in a "socialism vs capitalism" debate, and the reality is... well, a bit more nuanced (as it tends to be).
But suffice to say they have a "checkered" past, often incorporating both elements of a planned economy (socialist) and a capitalist-inspired production economy. Contrary to foreign conception, Scandinavian countries have a very different economic development, they sort of just ended up in a similar place. Sweden has been a "mini-Germany" relying on big industry, a strong monarchy and later on powerful business leaders, Denmark was an agricultural economy that grew into being very pro "small business", Norway was a planned economy that strongly aligned with US production methods to exploit its natural resources and slowly morphed into a capitalist welfare state.
I don't think I want to comment on the issues you listed in a short forum post. Suffice to say there are of course issues like in any country, but by and large these are well-run countries with highly functional welfare states.
Quote:
Originally Posted by d2_e4
I think teaching tame_deuces about the politics of Scandinavian countries is definitely a +EV line for you to take.