That didn't sound too good.
Let's try again.
Today, The Nordic countries probably have more successful companies per capita than any other part of the world.
Work ethics, educational levels, technological know-how, international and competetiveness is at an amazing level.
Scandinavian GDP/capita dwarfs every other part of the world (unless you reckognize places like Manhattan, Inner London and Lichtenstein as being 'parts of the world')
Today, Nordic corporate taxes are at a very attractive level, venture capital flock to Scandinavia and even Scandinavian unions agree that work itself is a rewarding and benign aspect of being employed.
Greater Stockholm + Greater Helsinki, apart from being one of the richest corners of the world, rivals the American West Coast in being the ICT Capital of the World (the main issue here; the only corporate alliance strong enough to shape the basics of our common digital future is that of Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony) and the country you're most likely to end up a millionaire in is Norway (more dollar millionaires/capita than any other economy).
I didn't mention Iceland above, but check out any statistics and you'll find out the most Viking nation isn't exactly lagging behind their Nordic brothers in terms of wealth, entrepreneurship and productivity.
But, have the Scandinavian countries departed from the once so (in)famous Socialist route?
Yes, to some extent. By and by, the Scandinavians have become aware that Capitalism is a good thing.
No, some would say. The inhabitants of ol' Thule still belive in Egalitarianism and in 'leaving no one behind'. This is one of the explanations to why the majority agree to pay high taxes (not on income, but on purchases, through high sales taxes).
In terms of national concepts for achieving broad scale high standards of living, the US and the Scandinavian countries are some of the best examples in world history.
They are different examples, but this circumstance alone is one of many reasons why I think they both are interesting and ought to be studied. We all want to get rich, don't we.
I'm not saying the US should become like Scandinavia or vice versa. The bottom line here is that there might be a point in sticking to national traditions like Nordic Egalitarianism as well as American Individualism, as long as it doesn't hurt Capitalist enterprise. In Scandinavia, Egalitarianism seems to work. In the US it probably wouldn't. Both systems, evidently, promote steady, long term economic growth and yearly Capitalist success stories and that is worthy of some attention.
The Scandanavian nations may be slowly going in a new direction.
If this keeps up, I’m going to have to look into dual citizenship. I really loved Stockholm and the short time I got to spend driving around the country.
Hmmm... I recall a study a couple of years ago that said that the average Swede’s standard of living was not equal to the average black person in America. I love to see the Scandinavian countries return to Capitalism, but I think we will see a large decline as the Islamisist invade under cover of political correctness. They have no desire to retain scandinavian egalitarianism.