Denmark is the Happiest Place in the World. Why?

I have seen a lot of studies on happiness, and there is usually one single attribute that is at the top of every study.

Being in meaningful relationships with other persons/people.

That's it. It isn't money, job, owning a sweet car, prestige, popularity, nationality, type of govt, etc. All those are nice but are hollow if you have no one to share things with in your life. I have never visited there but I would wager Denmark is a good social place where people still have close knit neighbors and communities. Ask the average American how many other people they know on their block or apt building. Bet the avg is less than 5. Heck even I don't know 5 different neighbors on my block.

Originally posted by Totalstranger
whats that mean that the US lost its "status" as a free country? what is the US then?

and I'd love to live in Denmark!

The Heritage Foundation has established a scoring system for countries to determine their level of economic freedom. They have decided that a score below 80 means a country is no longer economically free. A score below 80 results in the country being considered not free. In recent times Denmark and the US were above 80. Now they have dropped below 80, causing their status as economically free to be lost.

Tragically only seven countries are considered free by their measure. Hong Kong and possibly Singapore are the only ones that seem to have a reasonable degree of freedom. The rest seem quite restrictive in many ways.

Originally posted by CosmicEgg
When you say "capitalism", do you mean "money-motivated" or do you mean "freedom-motivated"? The freedom to make a living without undue difficulty is the road to happiness. This is how it is done in Denmark. I don't know anymore about the States, I haven't even been there in 15 years. I have spent quite a good amount of time in Denmark though and I can tell you that they are genuinely happy people.

I live not far away, in Finland. It is exactly the opposite of Denmark here.
=(

When I say capitalism I mean simple and few regulations for businesses, but also less total government spending as a percentage of GDP.

The only regulations that should exist for business are one or two lines worth. If the entire business law code is "If you cause damages you must pay full restitution to victims." then you have a legal system well-equipped to handle the majority of unethical business practices. I suspect that the remainder of them can be handled completely by free-market forces and peer pressure to behave ethically.

But yes, ideally I'd like government spending drawn from unethical sources of income to be 0% of GDP, and from ethical sources about 5% may work well depending on what functions they serve.

I think it is hysterically funny that the OP interprets the story about Denmark as one that confirms the value of capitalism.

If President Obama tried to push through the programs in place in Denmark, he would be immediately labeled by the far right as the greatest Communist since Lenin.

Denmark is so happy because of Socialism. They spend more of their time cooperating than competing, relative to Americans, and they are not on an endless treadmill of work in order to feed their families.

It is not a perfect place but their population, a small, cohesive, relatively homogeneous group of educated people, have made choices for intelligent solutions rather than pursuing pointless ideologies.

Originally posted by Grumble
I think it is hysterically funny that the OP interprets the story about Denmark as one that confirms the value of capitalism.

The Heritage Foundation says Denmark is the 9th most economically free (and therefore 9th most capitalist) nation on the entire planet. Wikipedia says they are the most economically free nation in the Euro Zone if I remember right. So, how Denmark's economy performs, in relation to other Euro zone economies especially, is a reflection on the value of capitalism.

Its true Denmark is not capitalist. I'm only comfortable saying that Hong Kong and Singapore are capitalist.

Unfortunately what is going to eventually happen in Denmark as a result of the strong welfare programs is that immigrants are going to pour in and leech the economy into submission.

The Free State Project and Seasteading projects will eventually be the final proof that capitalism results in the strongest possible economy, because its founding members are interested in a strongly capitalist economy. I believe both projects will show that humanity has capacity to take care of their poor without being forced to at gun point. I'm also fully prepared to say I'm wrong if that does not happen and then declare myself to be a socialist. But again, I'm pretty sure that is not what will happen.

[edit on 19-7-2010 by truthquest]

Denmark also has privatized unemployment insurance. To me this is a must to prevent government overspending in a downturn economy.

As opposed to all other forms of social security in Denmark, unemployment insurance is voluntary. Thus, you are not automatically insured against unemployment.

An unemployment insurance policy is taken out from an unemployment insurance fund, also known as an "A-kasse". These are private associations that are associated with trade unions and other professional organisations.

Most unemployment insurance funds are affiliated to specific trade unions, but there are also a number of cross-industrial unemployment insurance funds. It is possible to become a member of an unemployment insurance fund without being a member of the associated trade union.

Happiest place in the world?

Simple; There are lots of attractive blondes.

Hello all
As a resident of said country im calling this "DEBUNKED"
Would like to point to a really interesting read also by phillip jones which another poster mentioned.
"DK Ultra - Constructing The Mind Controlled State"
www.heising.dk...
All though i must admit that we have some really nice social security and medical benefits, but have to say that they are all accreditted to some of the highest taxes in the world and ever rising( we also have a 25% VAT, and all the extra "hidden" taxes you can imagine, even some you cant

I think that most of the succes in denmark, is due to the fact that we are a small country and we have been "Lab rats" in many areas of infrastructure and manegement.
(political ,buisness and educational etc)
Well wont go on a rant here, but would encourage people to read up on the subject if you really want to know how things are.
Because as the saying goes:

THERE IS SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK !

"The Mass Mind Control of a population can be defined as the sophisticated exercise of control by utilising the ability to keep people oppressed yet contented. The Tavistock Institute For Human Relations 1954."

Edit: to add quote.


[edit on 27-7-2010 by BBC The1]

Originally posted by truthquest
The Heritage Foundation says Denmark is the 9th most economically free

Oh really? Thats interesting to say the least, coming from the Heritage Foundation. The government of Denmark pays 86% of all the costs brought up by healthcare, they have universal healthcare there. Whats more surprising is that Denmark pays the highest amount of taxes (measured by the percentage of its GDP) in the world.

Did the heritage Foundation do their research correctly? Are they suggesting Obama follow the way of the Danish? Im sure they are not, given their comments about Obama regarding 'Obama care' and 'socialism'.

Shall I go on about Denmarks welfare system?

Its true Denmark is not capitalist.

Not in the sense of free market conservatives, no.

I'm only comfortable saying that Hong Kong and Singapore are capitalist.

Unfortunately what is going to eventually happen in Denmark as a result of the strong welfare programs is that immigrants are going to pour in and leech the economy into submission.

The Free State Project and Seasteading projects will eventually be the final proof that capitalism results in the strongest possible economy,

The proof is in the puddin'... you should just look alittle closer.