I seem to have hit a nerve with the last post and sparked some kind of argument between the benefits of socialism and capitalism.
For the record you can see in the table below from OECD that the average Danish production worker gets to keep 57,7% (the lowest shown) of what they earn compared with the EU average of 72,5% and the US average of 75,7% (not the highest - Mexico is with 96,3%)
In terms of overall tax burden measured here as total tax receipts as % of gross domestic product Denmark is second to Sweden with 48,9% whilst the EU average is 40,6% and US is 26,4%. This is taking into account things like 25% VAT, house tax and the huge car taxes for example.
However, as Lars points out we get free higher education free health care (except dentists, opticians, podiatrists, chiropractors and others - the only medical help I have needed in Denmark for myself has not been free, but maybe that is bad luck)
I don't think working hours are part of the argument although they make me feel a little better about living here. I think you need to grow up with socialism to really love it, and most of the Danes I know are very proud of their "system" as the Americans are proud of theirs.
I am not saying what is right or wrong, just that an effective 150% import duty seems rather steep!
Last time I heard 70% of Americans were without health insurance. This is nothing to be proud of and does not offer any "choices"
ReplyDeleteThere must be some comparison of average wage and average cost of living. I can see most people's points of view (except the american one!)
What about the kitchen (yours I mean)
WRM
Pareto wrote about one tenth of the people having one tenth of the wealth. I think and even smaller number here has an even larger portion of it. That's the trouble with capitalism.
ReplyDeleteWRM
I have been careful not to say what is right or wrong. I don't obect to paying for healthcare or education (to a point) but I think we pay for a big country infrastructure in a small country and it costs a lot. less than half of the working population is paying for the other half (civil servants and unemployed etc) so the tax has to be high.
ReplyDeleteI also don't think it is a bad thing to pay something towards higher education even if it is as increased tax in later life.
I think choosing to live somewhere just means getting on with it.
ReplyDeleteJust find the bright sides of life
ReplyDeleteThanks for your words and the graph. I'm in an environment where people share their opinions alot and I didn't wish to offend.
ReplyDeleteThere's actually more free health care in the US than is widely circulated ... there's county or State programs (I know from personal experience, etc) Plus we have Medi-Cal for the poor. But it's the middle group of workers families who are often under or not insured. We have some issues here decidedly.
Many here plus myself feel torn as they don't like alot of Federal restrictions or involvement. States can handle things very well, it's proven. I guess I'm talking about how things are managed.
Di
This is all a bit heavy.
ReplyDeleteSince you have no choice about taxes, you may as well get on with the kitchen.
m
Percentages alone mean bugger-all.
ReplyDeleteDisposable income after all deductions and netting off any insurances to determine some sort of comparability might be something like realistic.
Having paid for my kids education and been taxed in full before paying that I am just chuffed to bits to continue to pay for the next couple of generations of oiks.
I hope enough of them grow up to earn good wages to pay taxes to keep me in my dotage. They could of course bugger off to some socialist haven eg Alba, Cymru,DK,!!! GBN
Alba? or was it Elba - where Napoleon went? I see Cymru listed but not your, similarly devolved, part of the UK George!
ReplyDeleteAll this because a nerd (self admitted) wanted to advertise the fact.
ReplyDeleteGill has just phoned and reminded me it is Jeremy's birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Jeremy ! ajen
Shall I source a nerd T-shirt or two & smuggle them in, tax free?
ReplyDeletem
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEREMY.
ReplyDeleteWITH LOVE,
GRANDMA & GRANDAD.
(We shall buy you lots of T-shirts now we fully understand the tax burden on your parents for these items)
Lots of good comments and there is no right answer but now that is enough tax, let's move on.
ReplyDeleteAlba is Ecosse or Scotland - for the un initiated! GBN
ReplyDeleteAlba also make crap Hi Fi equipment
ReplyDelete