Viking Economics : How the Scandinavians Got It Right-and How We Can, Too

Liberals worldwide invoke Scandinavia as a promised land of equality, while most conservatives fear it as a hotbed of liberty-threatening socialism. But the left and right can usually agree on one thing: that the Nordic system is impossible to replicate elsewhere. The US and UK are too big, or too individualistic, or too . . . something. In Viking Economics George Lakey dispels these myths. He explores the inner workings of the Nordic economies that boast the world’s happiest, most productive workers, and explains how we can enact some of the changes—including universal healthcare, affordable childcare, and a month of paid vacation for all—that the Scandinavians fought for surprisingly recently. We, too, can refuse to be governed by the elites and embrace equality in our economic policy—here’s how. An academic and activist takes an entertaining look at the Nordic welfare stateand shows us how we, too, can have a far more equal and just economic system In America, many Democrats invoke Scandinavia as a promised land of equality, while most Republicans fear it as a hotbed of liberty-threatening socialism. But the left and right can usually agree on one thing: that the Nordic system is impossible to replicate here at home. The US is too big, or too individualistic, or too puritan, or too . . . something. Whatever the reason, it's impossible, and we shouldn't bother to try. Enter George Lakey. A longtime activist and academic, Lakey has spent decades studying the economies of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, and in Viking Economics, he reveals that Scandinavia's deep commitment to the welfare state is much more recent than we think. Not long ago, Scandinavia was a far more unequal place, with a much weaker commitment to the social welfare of its citizens. There's nothing inherently Scandinavian about greater equality . . . so why not try it here? Viking Economics is more fun and entertaining than any economics book you've ever read. And, very possibly, more convincing! As he ranges from twentieth-century Norwegian history to the details of Swedish childcare policies, Lakey never loses his sense of humor or his expansive, generous vision of a better, more equal future. By explaining that even Scandinavia's grandest experiments in social equality are rooted in recent political struggles, Lakey explains shows how we can do it, tooconventional wisdom be damned. From the Hardcover edition. "An academic and activist takes an entertaining look at the Nordic welfare state--and shows us how we, too, can have a far more equal and just economic system In America, many Democrats invoke Scandinavia as a promised land of equality, while most Republicans fear it as a hotbed of liberty-threatening socialism. But the left and right can usually agree on one thing: that the Nordic system is impossible to replicate here at home. The US is too big, or too individualistic, or too puritan, or too. something. Whatever the reason, it's impossible, and we shouldn't bother to try. Enter George Lakey. A longtime activist and academic, Lakey has spent decades studying the economies of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, and inViking Economics, he reveals that Scandinavia's deep commitment to the welfare state is much more recent than we think. Not long ago, Scandinavia was a far more unequal place, with a much weaker commitment to the social welfare of its citizens. There's nothing inherently Scandinavian about greater equality. so why not try it here? Viking Economicsis more fun and entertaining than any economics book you've ever read. And, very possibly, more convincing! As he ranges from twentieth-century Norwegian history to the details of Swedish childcare policies, Lakey never loses his sense of humor or his expansive, generous vision of a better, more equal future. By explaining that even Scandinavia's grandest experiments in social equality are rooted in recent political struggles, Lakey explains shows how we can do it, too--conventional wisdom be damned"-- Provided by publisher Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction: Discovering Today’s Vikings Beyond the Guidebooks Part I: How They Got to the Top 1. Vikings as Iconic Adventurers, Then and Now 2. Making Their Way in a Globalized World 3. Vikings Get Lost, Bankers Go Wild 4. Iceland Creates the Biggest Crash, then Rebounds 5. How Norwegians Empowered Themselves to Adopt the Nordic Model Part II: Design for Living in the Nordic Countries 6. More Start-ups than the United States: Support for Entrepreneurs, Workers, and the Equality of Women 7. Family Farmers and Cooperatives: Key Players in the Nordic Model 8. Preventing Poverty: Nordics Learn How an Advanced Economy Can Abolish Poverty 9. Creating Work/Life Balance 10. Breaking Barriers to Education and Lifelong Learning 11. Paying for What You Get: The Viking Approach to Taxes Part III: Today’s Challenges, for Them and For Us 12. Allowing Racial and Other Differences to Work for the Common Good 13. Reaching for High Goals on Climate Change 14. How Relevant Is the Nordic Model to the United States? Acknowledgments Notes About the Author