4 ms·

Wait. Are Norway and Sweden in the group of "most capitalist"? I thought they also had a bunch of socialized programs. I feel like USA and UK are the top two "m

by edoceo 5y ago

Wait. Are Norway and Sweden in the group of "most capitalist"? I thought they also had a bunch of socialized programs. I feel like USA and UK are the top two "most capitalist" countries.

ericmay 5y ago
Having social programs doesn't preclude you from being a capitalist country. If it did, the U.S. has medicare, medicaid, welfare, social security, food stamps, affordable housing programs, and many others yet we consider it to be highly capitalist. People often confuse political and economic systems (which is fair) because they get tangled together. Both Norway and Sweden are capitalist countries. They have stock markets even. [1][2] At least for me and I'll speak on behalf of others who can correct me but there is great annoyance with "capitalism bad for everything" slogans and phrases precisely because it's more of a lack of functional government (at least in America) than it is private ownership of property or production. You should be able to start and own a business, the government (largely) shouldn't be telling you what you can and can't spend your money on, and entrepreneurship is very valuable and should be promoted and encouraged, not shamed or something you get executed for. -edit- The main difference between Nordic social democracies and a country like the United States is marketing and effectiveness. The U.S. spends an incredible amount of money on social programs. Some groups in the U.S. spend an incredible amount of resources convincing others that government programs are "socialism" and therefore bad. It's a wonder that my older relatives who rail against these programs are the same ones that benefit mostly from them. I always say yea I'm on board we should cut medicare and social security (that they receive) and the conversation changes at that point, though their minds don't. That should tell you something. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Stock_Exchange https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Stock_Exchange [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasdaq_Stockholm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasdaq_Stockholm
- lexapro 5y ago
  >I always say yea I'm on board we should cut medicare and social security You're evil ;)
dagw 5y ago
Ranking countries by "capitalism" is hard and kind of pointless. Sweden for example has no legally mandated minimum wage, which should make it more 'capitalist' than the US. It also has stronger unions and worker protection, which some people might argue makes it less capitalist. Sweden has (I believe) a much higher percentage of privately run high schools than the US (more capitalist), but free University education (less capitalist). Also the UK is in some ways 'less capitalist' then Sweden with its fondness for large government institutions like the NHS, while in Sweden health care is to much larger extent provided by private healthcare providers.

by edoceo 5y ago

Wait. Are Norway and Sweden in the group of "most capitalist"? I thought they also had a bunch of socialized programs. I feel like USA and UK are the top two "most capitalist" countries.

ericmay 5y ago

Having social programs doesn't preclude you from being a capitalist country. If it did, the U.S. has medicare, medicaid, welfare, social security, food stamps, affordable housing programs, and many others yet we consider it to be highly capitalist. People often confuse political and economic systems (which is fair) because they get tangled together. Both Norway and Sweden are capitalist countries. They have stock markets even. [1][2] At least for me and I'll speak on behalf of others who can correct me but there is great annoyance with "capitalism bad for everything" slogans and phrases precisely because it's more of a lack of functional government (at least in America) than it is private ownership of property or production. You should be able to start and own a business, the government (largely) shouldn't be telling you what you can and can't spend your money on, and entrepreneurship is very valuable and should be promoted and encouraged, not shamed or something you get executed for. -edit- The main difference between Nordic social democracies and a country like the United States is marketing and effectiveness. The U.S. spends an incredible amount of money on social programs. Some groups in the U.S. spend an incredible amount of resources convincing others that government programs are "socialism" and therefore bad. It's a wonder that my older relatives who rail against these programs are the same ones that benefit mostly from them. I always say yea I'm on board we should cut medicare and social security (that they receive) and the conversation changes at that point, though their minds don't. That should tell you something. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Stock_Exchange https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Stock_Exchange [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasdaq_Stockholm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasdaq_Stockholm

lexapro 5y ago
>I always say yea I'm on board we should cut medicare and social security You're evil ;)

dagw 5y ago

Ranking countries by "capitalism" is hard and kind of pointless. Sweden for example has no legally mandated minimum wage, which should make it more 'capitalist' than the US. It also has stronger unions and worker protection, which some people might argue makes it less capitalist. Sweden has (I believe) a much higher percentage of privately run high schools than the US (more capitalist), but free University education (less capitalist). Also the UK is in some ways 'less capitalist' then Sweden with its fondness for large government institutions like the NHS, while in Sweden health care is to much larger extent provided by private healthcare providers.