The secret to living in the world's happiest country

Who doesn't know the Scandinavian region? A collection of countries located in the northern region of Europe, which includes countries like Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The countries on the Scandinavian peninsula have a closely related history, so they share many cultural similarities, including in the aspect of achievement. For example, all of these countries except for Finland share a common language branch, German.

In addition, Scandinavian countries consistently top the list of the happiest countries in the world according to the World Happiness Report. Could it be because of a cultural connection that makes them always sit in the top ten of the list of the happiest countries in the world? What is the happiness?

Good and generous government

Many countries have shown how their people dislike their government. Vice versa, there are also many countries that exclude their people. However, this is not so apparent in Scandinavian countries. Public services such as education, health, and even small things like childcare, are all made free. All citizens, from those with high incomes to those with modest incomes, can get the same quality of education, guaranteed health services without passes, and assistance in raising and educating children.

For example, employees working in Denmark, as explained in the “Parental leave when working in Denmark” article, are entitled to a total of 52 weeks of paid leave, aka still paid when becoming new parents. Interestingly, this policy does not only apply to Danish residents but anyone who works in this beautiful country. Reportedly, this social insurance comes mostly from the income tax of residents. In 2019, Swedes paid the highest average tax in the world or about 50 percent of their income. In turn, the two-way trust between government and society allows the government to give its citizens the freedom to do what they feel is right. In turn, the citizens trust the government to make policies that are in the social interest.

Social programs ensure community welfare

In Scandinavian countries, it is difficult to find how a group of governments distribute land certificates, but at the same time evict and take over farmers' land. Or perhaps touting this card and that card, but at the same time, most people are rejected by hospitals and have difficulty accessing education. On the contrary, all government programs are always oriented towards ensuring the welfare of their people. Johannes Tiemer in "The Success of the Nordic Countries as a Blueprint for Small Open Economies" states that there are high economic levies imposed by the governments of Scandinavian countries.

Why is this important? It has to do with economic equality. Significant income inequality is associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. Increasing economic inequality is associated with poor economic growth, and leaves behind a sense of unrest and dissatisfaction. Economic equality benefits all levels of society, by making people smarter, more tolerant, less judgmental, and ultimately, more satisfied with their lives. This means that people are happier living in countries where there are no extreme differences in quality of life.

Strong philosophy of life

Many assume that the reason for Scandinavian countries' success in topping the happiness survey list is the emphasis on quality time for oneself as a habit and part of everyday life. Since 1970, the Danish people have popularized the concept of hygge (read: huuga) as a life principle that prioritizes happiness and comfort, which can be done alone or with loved ones. This habit was popularized by the Danes as they tried to survive the brutal and long winters in their country to stay happy.

Since then, the concept of Hygge has spread to neighboring countries, so that this concept is embedded in Scandinavian culture. Examples of Hygge can be found in their habits of drinking a cup of coffee or tea, enjoying dessert, spending time alone or with friends, or whatever they can do to feel comfortable. Now, the philosophy of Hygge has seeped into the Scandinavian way of life in the form of arranging space, resting, and company culture. However, does spending time on Hygge make Scandinavians lazy or unproductive? On the contrary, the concept of Hygge makes them more involved, creative and productive at work because of the disciplined allocation of time.

According to the Global Productivity Report published by Expert Market, Norway is the most productive country per person in Europe. This is based on annual GDP per capita, annual hours worked, and productivity per person hour compared to 35 other countries. Although Norway has the shortest working hours of any country, the business ethos of work-life balance has proven to be more productive than tying employees to their desks with expectations of higher productivity. So, when they work, they work. When they Hygge, they Hygge.

Can we be like them?

Of course, it is possible. But wait, what do they want there? What is certain is that the Nordic countries have achieved very high levels of well-being and happiness with economies comparable to other developed countries. This is due to relatively high levels of social solidarity and taxation, alongside political and economic systems that foster entrepreneurship, autonomy and economic aspirations in their countries. These factors also provide a framework that catalyzes and facilitates technological progress as a key driver of long-term growth in Scandinavia.

While the Nordic Model is impressive, it is not that easy to apply to other countries. The main challenges in applying the Nordic Model lie in assimilation, integration, increasing trust in government, consensus building, and institutional reconstruction. In addition, the Nordic countries have unique characteristics. They are relatively small and more ethnically and culturally homogeneous than other countries. This helps facilitate high levels of national trust and cooperation, making their citizens willing to pay higher taxes than average.

In the end, the Nordic Model is still worth studying and making as a reference for experimentation in countries where the government is committed to improving the welfare of its people. Because if it is only on the lips, as Ennyta Susanna's song says, it is useless and will only cause new problems and divisions.