Author Topic: I'm Not Moving to Scandanavia After All... (Read 2507 times)

-spawn · « **Reply #60 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:01:24 AM »

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High achivement is rewarded here too. The more you achive, the more you get in return. Simple really.

Sure, except that your tax burden is much higher.

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Norway, 2002 Total Taxes, as % of GDP:
44.2%

US, 2001 Total Taxes, as % of GDP:
28.9%

Source: "Structures of the taxation systems in the EU: 1995-2002", 361 pages, ISBN 92-894-7733-4. The publication is available free of charge in PDF format on the Eurostat website. Data for US is OECD.

Oh, that and the fact that your cost of living is much higher.

In either case, it's not as simple as saying that you get greater reward (compensation) for greater achievement. Relative to the US, you pay a greater percentage in taxes, and have to spend more money (on average) to achieve a similar standard of living.

Fishu · « **Reply #61 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:08:58 AM »

For the higher taxes we get cheaper healthcare, almost free education... etc.
In which you americans loose *alot* more money.

It's not THAT easy to compare it, because it is a very complex issue.
Needs to think of all the things which are affected.

I think Norway has the highest taxes of scandinavian countries, including Finland.
(AFAIK) Which again has something to do with keeping the northern norway habitated by backing it up financially.

Nilsen · « **Reply #62 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:10:13 AM »

The more you achive, the more you get in return. This is not even worth debating, its a fact.

Yes... we pay more taxes but we get more in return from it too. It is not _possible_ run Norway with your tax level. I bet that taxes will have to be raised in the US too soon.

Fishu · « **Reply #63 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:12:58 AM »

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Originally posted by Nilsen
I bet that taxes will have to be raised in the US too soon.

Depends on the consumption.
The US system relies more on the high consumption than the high taxes.
High taxes would cut down the consumption, which wouldn't really help.

Again.. AFAIK.

Nilsen · « **Reply #64 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:16:02 AM »

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Originally posted by Fishu
For the higher taxes we get cheaper healthcare, almost free education... etc.
In which you americans loose *alot* more money.

It's not THAT easy to compare it, because it is a very complex issue.
Needs to think of all the things which are affected.

I think Norway has the highest taxes of scandinavian countries, including Finland.
(AFAIK) Which again has something to do with keeping the northern norway habitated by backing it up financially.

Yes. Our geography and the low population relative to the size of the country it is very expencive to "run". Norway is not a big flat country, the infrastructure alone is very expencive to maintain and then you have school, hospitals etc.

Nilsen · « **Reply #65 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:18:23 AM »

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Originally posted by Fishu
Depends on the consumption.
The US system relies more on the high consumption than the high taxes.
High taxes would cut down the consumption, which wouldn't really help.

Again.. AFAIK.

Yeah, but in order to maintain a very high consumption there also has to be plenty of cheap raw materials and exports should exceed or atleast be equal to imports.

mora · « **Reply #66 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:31:10 AM »

Not to mention the taxes and fees the employers have to pay. If you are paid 50k a year before taxes, the employer has to pay around 100k in total.

Nilsen · « **Reply #67 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:32:31 AM »

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Originally posted by mora
Not to mention the taxes and fees the employers have to pay. If you are paid 50k a year before taxes, the employer has to pay around 100k in total.

were?

mora · « **Reply #68 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:33:25 AM »

here.

Nilsen · « **Reply #69 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:42:54 AM »

there?

mora · « **Reply #70 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:46:31 AM »

Btw, I just got back home from school for the last time. I held my BSc thesis seminar today and passed with flying coulours! So on 20th next month I'll be an honourable BSc in Automotive and Transport engineering.

Free education isn't too bad actually...the state even paid me $400/month for studying. I hear they pay you like $1300 in Norway??

sling322 · « **Reply #71 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:52:42 AM »

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Originally posted by Siaf__csf

What you do see however is a large amount of young people living on social security that find thier lives so easy that they won't even bother to find work. The state pays the rent, gas, electricity and basic necessities such as food and clothing. They get enough cash per month to invest in new tv's, amplifiers, speakers etc. (well, after some saving at least.)

How is teaching your whole nation of young people to be parasites good?

Nilsen · « **Reply #72 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:54:56 AM »

Congrats mora

We have free education and we get some money. I'm not sure how much and the amount varies based on a few factors. Usually half the money is given to you and the rest is a loan.

You can choose private education too, and I did. Mostly for practical reasons.

Airhead · « **Reply #73 on:** April 18, 2005, 11:59:00 AM »

Nielsen, does your Government provide you with that gay little hat you are so fond of wearing? I ask cause someone mentioned your Gov't. provides you with clothing, but if my Gov't. made us wear those stupid hats I'd immigrate.

Nilsen · « **Reply #74 on:** April 18, 2005, 12:00:40 PM »

No. I had to save up for the hat myself.