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Sweden probably isn't poor either. Why not have 3 years pasternity leave for both parents at 100% wage compensation? Obviously how rich a country is plays a par

• varjag 13y ago
  Sweden isn't really "richer" than USA or most of Northern Europe either. Clearly instantiating a system like that in Rwanda would be a problem, but in context of developed countries it's mostly a matter of policy, culture and priorities.
• TheDag 13y ago
  > Obviously how rich a country is plays a part in this? Of course it does. But not necessarily only in the direction you're hinting! At the end of the day it's not the number of hours worked, but the value created, that determines how wealthy a country gets. Having sufficient vacation and generally taking into account that employees are human beings might have an effect on how happy and productive they are. I don't know if there are studies lending support to this, but to my mind it seems a pretty plausible thesis. I regard spending some of my tax money on my neighbour staying home with his kids as an investment. Social security is fundamental to human health, crime, education, and ultimately productivity. To me, that is not all though. GDP growth isn't a goal or an end in itself - it is merely a (very important) means to worthy ends. It would be completely meaningless to have GPD growth if it did nothing to promote "the pursuit of happiness".