Nordic system.... Your thoughts? (welfare, conservatives, America, state)
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If the United States brought the Nordic labor system in America.... Would you be for or against it?
Some employee and other benefits in Sweden;
* 18 months paid maternity leave (Usually shared between both parents) * ~ $160/month for every child until age of 16 or until completing high school * Free dental and health care until age of 18 (or very small payment for adults) * Free college education (Small payment for books) * Great unemployment and retirement benefits * 5 weeks of paid vacation annually for all workers + lots of paid sick days & holidays * Free school and school lunch for all students * Elderly care (Retirement homes and home care) * Most workers belongs to Union
Social security benefits in Sweden;
* Bostadsbidrag - Housing allowances for anyone who cannot afford housing. * Sjukpenning - Benefits if you are ill or disabled and cannot work. * Ålderspension - Benefits for those who have retired. * Försörjningsstöd - Benefits for anyone, including children who cannot get reasonable standard of living.
Unemployment rate:
Norway 3.7% -- Sweden 8.4% -- Finland 8.1% -- Denmark 7%
They are not greedy. They do not need mansions and luxury automobiles to placate their insecurities.
If the United States brought the Nordic labor system in America.... Would you be for or against it?
Some employee and other benefits in Sweden;
* 18 months paid maternity leave (Usually shared between both parents)
* ~ $160/month for every child until age of 16 or until completing high school
* Free dental and health care until age of 18 (or very small payment for adults)
* Free college education (Small payment for books)
* Great unemployment and retirement benefits
* 5 weeks of paid vacation annually for all workers + lots of paid sick days & holidays
* Free school and school lunch for all students
* Elderly care (Retirement homes and home care)
* Most workers belongs to Union
Social security benefits in Sweden;
* Bostadsbidrag - Housing allowances for anyone who cannot afford housing.
* Sjukpenning - Benefits if you are ill or disabled and cannot work.
* Ã…lderspension - Benefits for those who have retired.
* Försörjningsstöd - Benefits for anyone, including children who cannot get reasonable standard of living.
Unemployment rate:
Norway 3.7% -- Sweden 8.4% -- Finland 8.1% -- Denmark 7%
I actually find the Nordic system to be pretty interesting and I think it fosters a good family environment, but I don't think that our society is healthy enough to implement something like this. I also don't like the idea of a 50% effective tax rate. A friend from high-school married a Norwegian man and they live there with their children. He wants to move to the U.S. so that he can keep some of the money he makes and he believes that abuse of the system is widespread. There are shortcomings in the Nordic model and counterpoints to it. I'm no expert in this matter and I'm relating my opinion that is based on conversations with one man who is probably pretty conservative by Northwestern European standards, but don't make the mistake that this would be painless or "obviously so much better" than what we already have.
Small businesses flourish in the EU. Have you ever been there? I've seen more small businesses in a town of 24,000 people than I did in Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster, PA. Travel broadens the mind
My father teaches courses around the world. He asked his european class "who here would want to open their own business?" not one raised their hands.
If they are ok with their standard of living then its fine.
A friend of mine works at H & M retail in Sweden, and she makes 24 000 SEK ($3590) a month after taxes + 5 weeks paid vacation. She works only 35 hours a week. Nobody ever gets that anywhere in America!
Low-skilled workers still make lots of money in Sweden, and rents are quite affordable unless you live in the most expensive neighborhoods in Stockholm. She lives right outside of Stockholm city, and has 3 bedroom apartment for only $800/month.
If the United States brought the Nordic labor system in America.... Would you be for or against it?
Some employee and other benefits in Sweden;
* 18 months paid maternity leave (Usually shared between both parents)
* ~ $160/month for every child until age of 16 or until completing high school
* Free dental and health care until age of 18 (or very small payment for adults)
* Free college education (Small payment for books)
* Great unemployment and retirement benefits
* 5 weeks of paid vacation annually for all workers + lots of paid sick days & holidays
* Free school and school lunch for all students
* Elderly care (Retirement homes and home care)
* Most workers belongs to Union
Social security benefits in Sweden;
* Bostadsbidrag - Housing allowances for anyone who cannot afford housing.
* Sjukpenning - Benefits if you are ill or disabled and cannot work.
* Ã…lderspension - Benefits for those who have retired.
* Försörjningsstöd - Benefits for anyone, including children who cannot get reasonable standard of living.
Unemployment rate:
Norway 3.7% -- Sweden 8.4% -- Finland 8.1% -- Denmark 7%
I'd be AGAINST it. Some citizens have to pay for that ample safety net. With child-bearing couples taking 18-month vacations every time they have a child, it would most likely be the responsibility of single workers with no kids. I also heard from a Swedish couple that the safety net even applies to muslim immigrants who have taken over the center cities. I'd be open to a more reasonable work system, but not the ones that you proposed.
Most professional and corporate positions start at 4 weeks plus holidays. NY and CA do have high taxes, but they have welfare states. The rest of America expects you to work. It's not just the top rate that I am talking about though; I am also talking about the tax brackets. Norway, for example has a higher tax rate that you reach much faster than the USA. How do you think that would boil over in the USA? I mean, alot of people don't even pay a dime in federal taxes. IMO, they would riot if you told them they would have to pay taxes.
If I knew I was going to be poor I would definitely choose to be poor in Norway/Finland/Sweden/etc though. No need for $30K private schools over there. Then again, their corporate tax rate is a flat 28% which is much better than our 35-40% rate, so it could be worthwhile for even a wealthy person to live there.
1. Income Tax.
Income tax is charged at a flat rate of 28% on net income.
A 9% surtax is charged on gross income if you earn between the equivalent of $73,641 - $119,662 USD, while a 12% surtax (on gross income) is charged if you earn anything over that.
In addition, taxpayers must make social security contributions based on whatever they make over $6,612 USD. 7.8% of any salary made over this amount goes towards social security contributions. Pension income is charged at a lower 3.0% rate.
2. Value Added Tax.
A Value Added Tax (or VAT) is charged on the sale of most goods and services in the country.
The general rate is 25%. A reduced rate of 14% applies to the sale of food and drink, while an even lower rate applies to hotel lodging, cinema shows, public transportation services and broadcasting charges.
The 14% rate does not apply to eating out at a restaurant. So, if you decide to take the family out for a dinner that ends up costing the equivalent of $100 USD, be prepared to pay an extra $25 in taxes (before the tip, of course).
3. Wealth Tax / Net Asset Tax.
Norwegians must pay an annual "wealth tax" on their net "worldwide assets".
There is an exemption (up to the equivalent of $78,483 USD), with any amount over that being subjected to a 1.1% "wealth tax".
In order to figure out how much you would pay, take the total worth of your assets (house, cash in the bank, etc) and subtract any liabilities (mortgage, etc).
As mentioned, there is an exemption up to 470,000 NOK (which works out to $78,483 USD) - any amount over that, and you are paying a 1.1% wealth tax.
As far as I am aware, this includes houses, cash in the bank, etc.
Most professional and corporate positions start at 4 weeks plus holidays. NY and CA do have high taxes, but they have welfare states. The rest of America expects you to work. It's not just the top rate that I am talking about though; I am also talking about the tax brackets. Norway, for example has a higher tax rate that you reach much faster than the USA. How do you think that would boil over in the USA? I mean, alot of people don't even pay a dime in federal taxes. IMO, they would riot if you told them they would have to pay taxes.
That is NOT the norm for most working Americans. Most are the standard two weeks plus holidays, or maybe some extra days designated as PTO to be used in lieu of "sick time"- which used to be the norm.
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