Norway has roughly the same per capita GDP as the United States

[Telly Savalas]

If democratic socialist style "big government" is such a burden on the economy as right-wing ideologues are always insisting, then how is it Norway, which is a prime example of such a "big government", can perform as well in generating wealth as the United States?


(Canadian DUers: do think Harper was aware of this fact when he called Canada a "Scandanavian-style welfare state"?)

[marmar]

1. The falacies of capitalism...

The private sector doesn't always do it better.

[jody]

2. And Luxembourg's rate is 1.47 times the U.S., so what? n/t

[Telly Savalas]

3. So if the right-wing ideologues are right about government

being a lag on the economy, then how can Norway be as economically successful as the U.S.? That's what.

If you agree with the right-wingers, then perhaps you can answer the question.

[Skink]

4. We don't have universal heathcare...

therefore we can only look up to Norway. I bet their air is cleaner too.

[jody]

7. Suggest you visit the site below,

"Rank Order - GDP - per capita"

Your assertion that "right-wing ideologues are right about government being a lag on the economy" may be an oversimplification or at least a statement made by an uninformed politician/speaker.

[Telly Savalas]

8. Jesus Fucking Christ!

That's not my goddamn fucking assertion. That's the assertion I'm challenging.

I'm arguing against it.

Fuck.

[jody]

9. Surely you recognize the cultural, industrial, and other differences

between Norway and the U.S.

How do you propose to use the form of government or degree of socialism to answer your question?

Why is the U.S. GDP/Capita 1.35 times that of the UK?

[Telly Savalas]

12. So what cultural factors and other differences

attribute to Norway's success?

If it's not something huge, one can only assume that claims that "government hampers the economy" are greatly exaggerated.

[jody]

13. Not necessarily. If you use government to mean socialism, then capitalism

is the most effective/efficient economic model for maximizing profits from scarce resources.

However, once profits have been produced, then IMO socialism has so far proved the better model for distributing profits among all citizens of a country.

Perhaps some day countries will adopt governments that are capitalistic-socialism. One might speculate that is the direction we are headed in the U.S. albeit many false starts and set backs. :shrug:

Note, I meant "capitalistic-socialism" to be the synthesis of the best parts of both economic models. That's different from what you might find on the internet if you google the phrase.

[tocqueville]

5. and FAR BETTER DISTRIBUTED

even countries with a somewhat lower GDP can have a much better welfare, social security, medical care etc... than the US. Norway has oil, which won't last forever, but countries lie Germany, France with no other raw resources than technology redistribute the wealth.

[cire4]

6. Shhhhhhh.....

Americans are supposed to think that the rest of the world is poorer than they are.

That is how the country's system of unfettered corporate capitalism finds legitimacy.

[madrchsod]

10. oil and gas production

tons of money for norways government and citizens

[leftofthedial]

11. the only thing that is a bigger burden on an economy than socialism

is unfettered capitalism, particularly the neocon and supply-side corporatist variety

[NNadir]

14. Have you ever been to Norway?

I have. It's not a "socialist" state.

It's a small country with a small population and huge oil revenue.