BRIT reacts to How Scandinavia Became So Rich 

As a Swede, I think much that is said in this video is correct. One thing that comes to mind, is missing, is the significance of Nordic inventions. They are too plentiful to be mentioned here, but it´s worth looking into.

At least in Sweden, a good portion of this came out of reforms implemented as a reaction to the large portion of Swedes emigrating to the USA. And the huge influence of unions was also inspired by unions in the USA. Perhaps unique for the Nordics was the act of shifting most of job market policies from the hands of politicians to the unions and employers organisations, forcing them to work together for a common good. The most powerful factor for economic success though has probably been low barriers for trade with neighboring countries.

Life in Scandinavia is good.

Living in Denmark I can concur with what is said in this video 👍

we have systems in place to minimize corruption. that's a big part of why we trust our leaders more then other countries and why I think our system works. For other people to apply our model they would first have to make changes to minimize corruption. I dont think it has anything to do with just "swedes trusting their leaders".

Scandinavia and their inventions. Would love to hear about that. =) → This I loved; *Thank you!* =)

You should make a video about Vikings and medieval Scandinavia lol

Expensive to an extent. It's possible to get a meal for £5 and a pint of beer for £3 in Sweden. I think I pay an average of £1 per meal I cook at home. My house of 150 sqm cost me £140,000. My perception of the UK and the USA is that things are more expensive there, but I guess it's always gonna be more expensive it you don't know where to go

I think the reason they say Scandinavia and not "the nordic countrys" is that it's shorter and faster to say. We ourselfs very seldom use the term scandinavia, we have a shorter word for all the countrys, "Norden"

These things are amazing

00:48 Why the heck did they plaster the Danish flag all over Sweden? And Denmark didn't get any flag at all. Kind of hard to take the rest of the video seriously when they don't even get that right.

'Solidaritet skal ikke kun ses på egne bankbog' - Solidarity must not only be seen on our own bank book. Along with Janteloven, allow for so much more that would be manipulated into submission by those raised on some outside models (and benefitting themselves, alone, by keeping certain aspects). We're kinda happy for some of our taxes to go to helping the less fortunate or those in need, beyond the general services that we're also making use of. You don't cut the rope ladder once you're up it, only to watch your kids scramble up a cliff and bemoan their efforts. The UK and US are much more willing and it's more culturally accepted to climb over others to get to the top. In the business world many outsiders risk alienation by taking that approach here. We don't have vast amounts of rules and laws for wages etc but you *will* follow those we have or be treated accordingly. Without the solidarity we'd never have made these changes, we'd not even have been able to get McDonalds to pay a living wage. With it, it becomes our way or the highway. Our country, our call - importantly though the voice of the people (well for the most part ay let's not get carried away). Similar vein runs across northern Europe not just the Nordics, it only really stops when we get to France, frilly Germans that they are..

as you talk about after the video- the Nordic model is NOT how Scandinavia got rich , Scandinavia got rich due to oil(Norway)Iron core (Sweden) shipping (Denmark) and for all 3 Innovation! and free marked economy with not to much restrictions on business so that it is easy to start a business and trade around the world

With a tax rate of 22%, how do you finance bridges, canals, tunnels and roads? Does the state just borrow money?

Iceland technically belongs to Scandinavia while Finland does not. Iceland was part of Denmark until WWII during which time Iceland became independent when Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany. The Scandinavian system recognizes that you need to have free healthcare and education as basic principles. By ensuring access to healthcare to everyone, you ensure that people can get back to being productive faster if they get hurt or encounter an accident. Regarding education, it is important to understand that talent can come from anywhere. If the less fortunate did not have access to free higher education, the full utilization of the possibilities is not properly explored. By providing free higher education, all natural talents have the chance to develop to the best for the country. The Scandinavian system is basically all about common sense and the fact that Scandinavians are some of the least corrupt people in the world, the governments in Scandinavia are generally trusted.

I have seen many complains from US and so on because of the high taxses in Norway it is not that high is said in this video i pay 23% tax and that pay for free school, free high school, free universety, free healtcars no matter what is wrong with you so a US heltcare with insurance thing wel if you some expensive care like canser or other sinknesses then the insurance won't pay that is you must pay your self that is not any option in Norway, you can only drive to the hospitale and do any surgery it don't cost anything and we have some called your personal doctor so it dont cost anything either and they send you to hospitales for any siknees you have so it is a very good health system here and i think that goes for Sweden and Denmark too also Iceland and Finland, so yes i am happy to live in Norway i have no fear for the future actually! What i really wanna se if USA could try this out in one state first to se if it could work there it would be nice and i suggest Minesota since it live so many Norwegians there, a hint to the US goverment 👍👍 Also the social system help peoples back to work so a goverment agency or some like we have here so those homeless get of the streets and are helped economic and back to work we have this here and you wil never se any homeless in Norway!

It feels as if the US have cold and snowy parts to, both up north and in the mountains. Some of their immigrants come from Scandinavia too.

could be cool to do a language video sometime :)

Kraut has made a video named "Getting to Denmark" who explained how and why Denmark became the way it is far better than this video.

The truth is much simpler: send all your poor and/or dissidents to the US and then manage what's left really well.

I think the system will break eventually when people from other countries will dominate as they have more children and they will not be sweds or norwegians for decades. While back in the days when sweds and norwegians and danes where ruled by each other we adapt to certain things that is still the same today, but people that come from other countries and also with other religions will make it hard for this trust and everything to remain the same, and eventually there will not be such a thing as a blue eyed and blond scandinavian as those people will not give birth to as many children, and people will also mix with people from other cultures. This could be both good and bad at the same time. The model will still be there in some way I think, but it will change when the people change.

Norway is rich norway can buy the other countries in scandinavia he he he

If you knew how much a car costs and basics groceries and such you would be saying Scandinavia is rich.

Djupa staten sweden Wallenberg

Findland is not a scandinavia countrY

So deap so deap stat ,so bad so rich ....!!!

This is bullshit. Our taxes is about 42, but the we have another tax on food (25%) after tax, and a stattax after that. When we learn 1 kr we can buy goods for 10 øre.

Please stop calling us Scandinavia. Only Norway and Sweden are geographically located on what is called the "Scandinavian Peninsula". Norway, Sweden and Denmark are three different countries and although they have similarities and historically close relationships, they are very different. There is no such thing as a "Scandinavian model". Both the economy and the basis for the economy are different in all three countries. A common feature may be that all three countries operate their economy within the basic capitalist values. Geographically, the countries are as different as it is possible to have three countries that are so close to each other. This has also resulted in how the national culture has developed differently in each of the three countries. The feeling of brotherhood across national borders probably differs depending on where you live in the country. The closer the border, the closer the brotherhood. Historically, there are still inflamed cases from the Second World War that have not yet been settled as they perhaps should have been. Both Sweden and Denmark still have an undemocratic nobility system, while Norway abolished this more than two hundred years ago. The linguistic similarity is still present, but in reality it seems that today's youth have problems understanding each other across national borders. It is really a loss that Swedish and Danish young people have to speak English to each other. If you really want to understand the relationship between the three countries, everything must be on the table, both good things and,,,, less good things.

The 40% unemployment is a questionable claim. At best it could be true for specific craftsmen in larger cities. To be a registered unemployed they had to be a member of a union, and paid for the right to receive unemployement benefits. Only a smaller percentage of the population could do that. So basically all women, children, many common labores and everyone employed in agriculture was not included in this over 40% unemployed. It was also the maximum in 1933 after 8 years of constant strikes and lockouts as the workers rights and wages had been challenged and fought over fiercely. Sometimes with French like violent protests. The Nordic model, or more specific Danish model came after this workers uprising. On the same day as Hitler assumed power Jan. 30th 1933 in Germany, the Danish way of political negotiation and compromise officially began with the Kansler gade aggreement en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanslergade_Agreement