Can you play golf there year-round?
Posted on 08/26/2005 12:22:56 PM PDT by Eurotwit
Norway will top a 2005 United Nations ranking as the best country in which to live for the fifth year in a row, the head of the UN Development Program (UNDP) said on Friday.
Rich from North Sea oil and with a generous welfare state, Norway has led the world ranking since it ousted Canada from top spot in 2001. The annual list ranks countries by an index combining wealth, education and life expectancy.
"The (2005) report comes out on September 7 and yes, Norway is ranked as number 1 on the human development index," UNDP administrator Kemal Dervis told a news conference in Oslo of the forthcoming report.
He gave no other details of the ranking. Last year, Norway was followed by Sweden, Australia and Canada at the top, while Sierra Leone was the last of 177 countries listed.
The news is likely to be welcomed by Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, whose centre-right government is trailing a "Red-Green" opposition alliance led by the Labor Party ahead of a Sept. 12 election.
But Dervis, on his first foreign trip since taking over as head of the UNDP this month, said the ranking was a reward for years of work by successive governments in Norway, the world's number 3 oil exporter behind Saudi Arabia and Russia.
"This is an achievement of the Norwegian people over a very long time. It cannot be interpreted as belonging to one government," he said.
Still, Bondevik has often grumbled that it is a paradox to be lagging so far in the polls when UNDP surveys have placed Norway top every year since he came to office in 2001.
The economy is set to expand by a stellar 3.75 percent this year, interest rates are at a very low 2.0 percent, annual inflation is almost non-existent at 1.1 percent and unemployment a low 3.7 percent.
And it will continue to be the best place, until the oil runs out. Then it will be hurting.
In Norway 3.75% is stellar, in the US it's HOOVERTIME!
Yeah. I once had someone point to Norway after I stated that socialism doesn't work in practice. "Oh, okay," I said. "So all you need to make socialism work is a ton of oil and a bunch of capitalist countries to sell it to. Gotcha."
Norway -- Population: 4,593,041
Wow, being atop the UNITED NATIONS' list. Big deal.
I'll take the United States of America anyday.
Yes, if you like to be a taxpaying SERF serving in indentured servitude to the bureaucrats who run your little "Paradise"
Yeah, But you gotta use BLACK golfballs.........InDerVinter.....
The land of Lapp Dancing and Lutefisk!........
No, but the girls are pretty :-)
07/12/2004 :: In Norway income tax ("inntektsskatt") and wealth tax ("formuesskatt") are direct taxes ("direkte skatter"). Income tax is paid directly as a percentage of income, whereas wealth tax is a tax on things you own, such as a house, bank deposits etc. Taxes are paid both to the state and the local municipality. In addition, a premium is paid to the social security system to finance public hospitals, medical treatment and various social benefits. The most important indirect tax ("indirekte skatt") is value added tax, VAT, which is a general tax levied on sales within the country and on import. VAT is levied on most goods and some services, and applies to all stages in the chain of production and distribution. Any person engaged in trade or business is required to register and to charge and pay VAT on goods he/she supplies. VAT on inputs purchased by the registrants is deductible in the VAT accounts. VAT is thus not a tax on the registrants but a tax on final consumption. VAT is presently calculated at a rate of 12 to 24 per cent of net price. All self-employed persons are obliged to add this tax to sales of goods and services; it is a punishable offence not paying this tax in Norway. Further information on value added tax is available from the Chief County Tax Inspector ("Fylkesskattesjefen"). Your employer in Norway is obliged to deduct tax from you wages before you are paid. Once you have found employment in Norway you must obtain a tax card from you local taxation office as soon as possible. Your employer and the taxation office will provide all necessary information on how to apply and what you must enclose with your application. The tax card states what percentage of your income your employer must deduct in tax. If you start work without a tax card, your employer is obliged to deduce 50 % tax. This is generally more than would be deducted from you wages if you had a tax card, but if you have paid too much tax, you will receive a refund in the spring or autumn of the following year when the tax assessments are completed. If you live in Norway for a period less than six months, special tax regulations apply. Your local taxation office ("ligningskontor") in Norway will provide more information. A detailed overview of the Taxes in Norway is offered on the web pages of the Ministry of Finance. A guide to the Norwegian tax system is available here.
The bilateral treaty between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital was amended on the 12 October 2000. For companies and persons not resident in Norway but engaged in tax activities in Norway the tax affairs will be dealt with by: Central Office - Foreign Tax Affairs (Sentralskattekontoret for utenlandssaker) Prinsens vei 1 4300 Sandnes Telephone: +47 51 67 80 88 Fax: +47 51 67 85 59 See also the Central Office's Guide for foreign employers and employees. Send this article to a friend Print versionSubscribe to this category More National Insurance in NorwayLinks Ministry of Finance Guide to the Norwegian Tax system Guide for foreign employers and employees Bilateral Tax Agreement Embassy and Consulate GeneralCentenary Events Contact the Embassy Impressum About the site © 2003 Norway Portal
07/12/2004 :: In Norway income tax ("inntektsskatt") and wealth tax ("formuesskatt") are direct taxes ("direkte skatter"). Income tax is paid directly as a percentage of income, whereas wealth tax is a tax on things you own, such as a house, bank deposits etc. Taxes are paid both to the state and the local municipality. In addition, a premium is paid to the social security system to finance public hospitals, medical treatment and various social benefits. The most important indirect tax ("indirekte skatt") is value added tax, VAT, which is a general tax levied on sales within the country and on import. VAT is levied on most goods and some services, and applies to all stages in the chain of production and distribution. Any person engaged in trade or business is required to register and to charge and pay VAT on goods he/she supplies. VAT on inputs purchased by the registrants is deductible in the VAT accounts. VAT is thus not a tax on the registrants but a tax on final consumption. VAT is presently calculated at a rate of 12 to 24 per cent of net price. All self-employed persons are obliged to add this tax to sales of goods and services; it is a punishable offence not paying this tax in Norway. Further information on value added tax is available from the Chief County Tax Inspector ("Fylkesskattesjefen"). Your employer in Norway is obliged to deduct tax from you wages before you are paid. Once you have found employment in Norway you must obtain a tax card from you local taxation office as soon as possible. Your employer and the taxation office will provide all necessary information on how to apply and what you must enclose with your application. The tax card states what percentage of your income your employer must deduct in tax. If you start work without a tax card, your employer is obliged to deduce 50 % tax. This is generally more than would be deducted from you wages if you had a tax card, but if you have paid too much tax, you will receive a refund in the spring or autumn of the following year when the tax assessments are completed. If you live in Norway for a period less than six months, special tax regulations apply. Your local taxation office ("ligningskontor") in Norway will provide more information. A detailed overview of the Taxes in Norway is offered on the web pages of the Ministry of Finance. A guide to the Norwegian tax system is available here.
The bilateral treaty between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital was amended on the 12 October 2000. For companies and persons not resident in Norway but engaged in tax activities in Norway the tax affairs will be dealt with by: Central Office - Foreign Tax Affairs (Sentralskattekontoret for utenlandssaker) Prinsens vei 1 4300 Sandnes Telephone: +47 51 67 80 88 Fax: +47 51 67 85 59 See also the Central Office's Guide for foreign employers and employees. Send this article to a friend Print versionSubscribe to this category More National Insurance in NorwayLinks Ministry of Finance Guide to the Norwegian Tax system Guide for foreign employers and employees Bilateral Tax Agreement Embassy and Consulate GeneralCentenary Events Contact the Embassy Impressum About the site © 2003 Norway Portal
ping
The thing with the Norway is that there really are damned few people there. It's absolutely gorgeous. Socialism can work because of the low population and the oil revenues. It works despite itself. The entire population of Norway as of July 2003 was 4,546,123. Smaller than some American cities. They export 3.3 million barrels of oil per day. Third behind Saudi Arabia and Russia. Next year will be even better. They are now getting $65 for the oil. If they say average 60 a barrel for the year that is 72 billion in oil sales almost $16,000 per every man, woman, and child in the country, per year in gross oil revenue. There economy would be in recession if the oil dried up. But they are on the gravy train right now.
Actually, Norway's a socialist nightmare. My father lives there, and I cringe every time I hear about that place. It's Dec, and you need a surgery. Oh, sorry - the budget is out. You'll just have to wait two, three more weeks until the next fiscal year.
O, need a cardiac stress test ? No problem, stick around for next 6 months on the wait list and we'll check you out. Cardiac specialist, you say ? Well, maybe another 3-6 months after your stress test. Nevermind you might have a 80% clogged major artery on your hart. You'll be fine.
Economy doing great ? O sure - as long as the oil prices are high. Other than that - there is NOTHING worth mention in terms of economy in Norway. They actually closed down refineries because they were not "clean" enough, so now, they export the oil to Sweden and import the gas back. At double the prices.
And they have about 100% sales tax rates when it's all said and done - a car (the same damn car) made in europe is twice as expensive to buy in Norway than here in US!
And the marginal tax rates are in the 50-60% range.
O yea great socialist utopia. Whatever.
For comparison: Alabama - Population: 4,500,000 (2003 estimate) http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html
"I don't feel rich."
Well, look at how thing are in Norway, which is supposedly our biggest competitor- they can barely afford to eat out for lunch, since things are so expensive:
by Bruce Bawer
New York Times
OSLO - THE received wisdom about economic life in the Nordic countries is easily summed up: people here are incomparably affluent, with all their needs met by an efficient welfare state. They believe it themselves. Yet the reality - as this Oslo-dwelling American can attest, and as some recent studies confirm - is not quite what it appears.
Even as the Scandinavian establishment peddles this dubious line, it serves up a picture of the United States as a nation divided, inequitably, among robber barons and wage slaves, not to mention armies of the homeless and unemployed. It does this to keep people believing that their social welfare system, financed by lofty income taxes, provides far more in the way of economic protections and amenities than the American system. Protections, yes -but some Norwegians might question the part about amenities.
In Oslo, library collections are woefully outdated, and public swimming pools are in desperate need of maintenance. News reports describe serious shortages of police officers and school supplies. When my mother-in-law went to an emergency room recently, the hospital was out of cough medicine. Drug addicts crowd downtown Oslo streets, as The Los Angeles Times recently reported, but applicants for methadone programs are put on a months-long waiting list.
In Norway, the standard line is that there must be some mistake, that such things simply should not happen in "the world's richest country." Why do Norwegians have such a wealthy self-image? Partly because, compared with their grandparents (who lived before the discovery of North Sea oil), they are rich. Few, however, question whether it really is the world's richest country.
After I moved here six years ago, I quickly noticed that Norwegians live more frugally than Americans do. They hang on to old appliances and furniture that we would throw out. And they drive around in wrecks. In 2003, when my partner and I took his teenage brother to New York - his first trip outside of Europe - he stared boggle-eyed at the cars in the Newark Airport parking lot, as mesmerized as Robin Williams in a New York grocery store in "Moscow on the Hudson."
One image in particular sticks in my mind. In a Norwegian language class, my teacher illustrated the meaning of the word matpakke - "packed lunch" - by reaching into her backpack and pulling out a hero sandwich wrapped in wax paper. It was her lunch. She held it up for all to see.
Yes, teachers are underpaid everywhere. But in Norway the matpakke is ubiquitous, from classroom to boardroom. In New York, an office worker might pop out at lunchtime to a deli; in Paris, she might enjoy quiche and a glass of wine at a brasserie. In Norway, she will sit at her desk with a sandwich from home.
It is not simply a matter of tradition, or a preference for a basic, nonmaterialistic life. Dining out is just too pricey in a country where teachers, for example, make about $50,000 a year before taxes. Even the humblest of meals - a large pizza delivered from Oslo's most popular pizza joint - will run from $34 to $48, including delivery fee and a 25 percent value added tax.
Not that groceries are cheap, either. Every weekend, armies of Norwegians drive to Sweden to stock up at supermarkets that are a bargain only by Norwegian standards. And this isn't a great solution, either, since gasoline (in this oil-exporting nation) costs more than $6 a gallon.
All this was illuminated last year in a study by a Swedish research organization, Timbro, which compared the gross domestic products of the 15 European Union members (before the 2004 expansion) with those of the 50 American states and the District of Columbia. (Norway, not being a member of the union, was not included.)
After adjusting the figures for the different purchasing powers of the dollar and euro, the only European country whose economic output per person was greater than the United States average was the tiny tax haven of Luxembourg, which ranked third, just behind Delaware and slightly ahead of Connecticut.
The next European country on the list was Ireland, down at 41st place out of 66; Sweden was 14th from the bottom (after Alabama), followed by Oklahoma, and then Britain, France, Finland, Germany and Italy. The bottom three spots on the list went to Spain, Portugal and Greece.
Alternatively, the study found, if the E.U. was treated as a single American state, it would rank fifth from the bottom, topping only Arkansas, Montana, West Virginia and Mississippi. In short, while Scandinavians are constantly told how much better they have it than Americans, Timbro's statistics suggest otherwise. So did a paper by a Swedish economics writer, Johan Norberg.
Contrasting "the American dream" with "the European daydream," Mr. Norberg described the difference: "Economic growth in the last 25 years has been 3 percent per annum in the U.S., compared to 2.2 percent in the E.U. That means that the American economy has almost doubled, whereas the E.U. economy has grown by slightly more than half. The purchasing power in the U.S. is $36,100 per capita, and in the E.U. $26,000 - and the gap is constantly widening."
The one detail in Timbro's study that didn't feel right to me was the placement of Scandinavian countries near the top of the list and Spain near the bottom. My own sense of things is that Spaniards live far better than Scandinavians. In Norwegian pubs, for example, anyone rich or insane enough to order, say, a gin and tonic is charged about $15 for a few teaspoons of gin at the bottom of a glass of tonic; in Spain, the drinks are dirt-cheap and the bartender will pour the gin up to the rim unless you say "stop."
In late March, another study, this one from KPMG, the international accounting and consulting firm, cast light on this paradox. It indicated that when disposable income was adjusted for cost of living, Scandinavians were the poorest people in Western Europe. Danes had the lowest adjusted income, Norwegians the second lowest, Swedes the third. Spain and Portugal, with two of Europe's least regulated economies, led the list.
Most recently, the Danish Ministry of Finance released a study comparing the income available for private consumption in 30 countries. Norway did somewhat better here than in the KPMG study, lagging behind most of Western Europe but at least beating out Ireland and Portugal.
The thrust, however, was to confirm Timbro's and Mr. Norberg's picture of American and European wealth. While the private-consumption figure for the United States was $32,900 per person, the countries of Western Europe (again excepting Luxembourg, at $29,450) ranged between $13,850 and $23,500, with Norway at $18,350.
Meanwhile, the references to Norway as "the world's richest country" keep on coming. An April 2 article in Dagsavisen, a major Oslo daily, asked: How is it that "in the world's richest country we're tearing down social services that were built up when Norway was much poorer?"
Obviously, this is one misconception that won't be put to rest by a measly think-tank study or two.
Bruce Bawer,a freelance writer based in Oslo, reports frequently on social and cultural issues.
Norway is a capitalist market economy.
However, there is heavy taxation and some government ownership of industry.
Anyways, your friend is wrong to use Norway as a case to argue for socialism.
Some of us are not....
Cheers.
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