3 ms·

Just curious, which parts are not accurate? I would be very nice to know for someone who is not Danish.

• Svip 13y ago
  As my parent points out, the statement by Christian Bjørnskov, that Danes are ambitious. Danes are far more interested in working for an employer than being one (on average). Danes like a large welfare state and we like comfort. While Bjørnskov goes on to hide his suggestion with the fact that Danes don't like to show off (we have a culture against showing off, see Law of Jante[1], which is diminishing but very slowly), his concept of 'ambitious' does not translate into something that makes Danes particularly happier. Our 'happiness' rating stems from our comfort, because despite the welfare state's quirks, it does work some of the time. But it is a huge drag on the treasury, and a lot of the money are not exactly spent efficiently. Denmark is not a perfect place, and I am not sure people coming here will automatically be happier (particularly considering how we treat immigrants). [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante
  • marknutter 13y ago
    I thought Danish people were the happiest people in the world because they had the lowest expectations. 60 Minutes did a piece on it a while back: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3841772n http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3841772n
    • Svip 13y ago
      We do, because our comfort level is so high. Because one might ask, 'why do Danes have such low expectations?' following that conclusion.
  • kalms 13y ago
    > Danes are far more interested in working for an employer than being one (on average). Danes like a large welfare state and we like comfort. I don't think you're necessarily right about that statement. Most people I know dreams of being self-employed, especially where I grew up in Jutland. That doesn't make me right either. Both of us are using ourselves as a measurement here, and that's probably a bad idea.
    • ThomPete 13y ago
      Most people dream of working abroad. When it comes down to it they really do prefer to live at home. Same things goes for being self employed. You can't judge anything based on what people say they want to do, you have to do it based on what they do, especially in a country like Denmark where it's literally risk free to start a company.
      • kalms 13y ago
        Risk free? My 5 years of paying off debt from a failed company says otherwise.
        • ThomPete 13y ago
          Yeah but you don't have to deal with for instance healthcare cost should you or your family get into trouble. And believe me, you do not want to be caught of guard in the US without proper healthcare which for a self-employed is really expensive and sub par to working in a large organisation with a proper healthcare setup.
          • kalms 13y ago
            You still have to factor in that very same safety net. You'll lose a guaranteed income, from the state, by choosing the entrepreneurial route vs. unemployment. That's taking a pretty big risk for something that might never amount to anything. In other countries you're basically screwed, if you can't get a job. You have to then seriously consider doing something on your own accord. The same incentive is largely missing here in Scandinavia. Risk comes in many variations!