@@dgaydos danes are terrible at speaking english fluently. While we understand the language and can write it perfectly, it somehow dosen't translate into us speaking it well. Danglish, as it is commonly referred to as. You will always be able to tell when someone speaking english is danish or not, due to our disgusting accent. yes, I am harsh on us, but seriously, the swedes and Norwegians speak english fluently.
@@frederikwegnerfrost-jensen4454 The Swedes and Norwegian has just as much accent as us, and I can promise you that the American ladies loved my accent when I lived in Chicago. Stop talking crap 🤣
By paying high taxes the Danes provide a social safety net for themselves that eliminates the typical American stressors. No wonder they’re happy (or content). They don’t have to worry about having a roof over their heads, or hospital bills that drive them to bankruptcy, or having to scrape by on fast-food jobs because they have a good, free education. Frankly, their investment in their lives makes a lot more sense than ours.
@@Justin1337Sane As a Dane, I don´t see it fading away. People will always want more or less of something, we have different needs. But there is not a day, where I am not grateful, that I was born and raised here 🙂
@@Justin1337Saneplease reply why. Is it related to racism. If it is let me point out that nobody chose their race and point of origin. Just as Europeans Explored the world now other races will roam the planet and it's simply history taking it's course.
Paying 90% in tax and having a healthcare system that's number 1 in killing people in the EU, does not make me happy. Everything costs money now and there is very little free for the huge tax we pay. The socialist regime is a kleptocracy constantly raising their own salaries, while ripping off the people in every possible way. Highest suicide rate, Highest divorce rate, most children growing up with one parent, kids can't read, can't do math and are indoctrinated into a socialist mindset. it's a fekking mess, so don't believe in this propaganda presented by one of the most untrustworthy msm garbage outlet of all time. Socialism will be the end of this country with nearly half of the workforce employed by government, it is bound to fail. We don't have a single independent media, everything is narrated by the regime.
With a work/life balance, having a work/job that you love is not neccesary, you just need at job that pays the bills and that you don’t actually hate. Best regards, A Dane :-)
Urgency and gratitude are the main ingredients to be happy. Urgency is to in control of one's life and gratitude is to be thankful for what you achieve and have.
I lived in Denmark for a few years in the mid 1980s. Paying the taxes is definitely better. It is the "have more by having less" reality. The return on those taxes is vast over a lifetime. Scraping around for nickels and dimes in the current moment is ruinous. Having a well laid out vision for a lifetime is nice, quite nice. By the way, the idea of "workaholic" is about working to excess without compensation and without better alternatives in one's life for a meaningful life. With a meaningful life in play, why work to excess? There are plenty of people and plenty of jobs. On the other hand, more important than "workaholic" is the idea of work ethic. The preference to have a job, to be gainfully employed, to contribute to the larger whole, is to have a work ethic. It is far more important to have a work ethic than to spend excessive amounts of time at one's job; instead of with family, friends and other ways to participate in civil society. That is the challenge for Americans in the US. How to we find a more healthy way of having jobs and lives with our family, friends and community.
Ask any Scandinavian if they think they pay high taxes. Most will say yes. Ask the same person if they'd want to pay less tax and forego free education and free healthcare and all would say no.
Living in Denmark 🇩🇰 Homeless people in Denmark is a choice Because all citizens are required to be helped by the state Many homeless here are sick and can’t not live a normal life If you go to jail you can get a education and so on Love my country And proud to be Danish
We are among the happiest people in the world because over all we have a good life. Everyone has a good chance in life. Due to the fact that we all have augural rigths and the same opportunities. We all have the same right to help if we fall ild or unemployed. We really dont have that fare distant from the bottom to the top meaning that most people actual fee like they can succeed in life. Yes,! We do pay a lot in tax but we actually do get a lot in return for what we pay. Such as free health / hospital care. Free education + studens salary/ payment for attending schools after 9th or 10th years. What's keeps everything in place is labors unions / ' den danske arbejderkedsmodel'
@@rustyspottedcat8885 Part of it. It is really about trust, while it is not like there isn't crime there is little compared to many nations. And not only that, but there is just a general trust among people, if in need there is high certainty that even a stranger will go to great lengths to help you and you can be sure society as a whole will help.
@@bzdtemp You mig be right up against my 57 years. Working as a self-employed since I was 21 and bring up 3 kids that all have at least one master degree. without me paying a dime?
Interesting that the Danes are happy to give up half their income to taxes for a lifetime of social programs. I fear that here in the US, people do not trust the government to spend their tax money wisely, nor do they want to see their tax money being spent on people they do not deem worthy of help. While we do have a pork project and military spending problem, social programs tend to return excellent value to its constituents, even if they are not particularly efficient. Privatization of social programs has shifted the goal from helping constituents, to shareholder profit. Capitalism has its place, but it does not serve the people well in healthcare, the justice system, and education.
you end of paying the same in the US, there are Americans living in Denmark who makes youtube videos one is called "Robe trotting" and "traveling young" they say they end up with about the same, travelling young have a video where they go through all tax and bills ect. Denmark vs Ohio where they lived it's the same because you don't pay for healthcare or education, the diff. is in the US if you get seriously ill it ends up costing way way more, one thing however some Americans who look at wage Denmark vs the USA forget to compare are the hours worked to get the wage they have, in Denmark we work less full time is 37 hours a week and we have 5-6 weeks of vacation plus a lot of traditional holidays (Christian holidays most of them) I think one of the problems you have in the US is you pay way to much for healthcare, some want private healthcare some public, some tax financed some separate but the main thing is it's supposed to be affordable and I'm quite chocked to hear how much you actually pays a month and then it does not even cover everything far from it
It should be looked as an investment in people. Like you say social programs have an excellent return value. If for example the cost of helping a person through a social programme would require a 1.000 $. That person would perhaps get a job or education, and be a contributing member of the community and paying his own. On the other hand if help was refused or there were no social programme, the government/taxpayers would save the 1.000 $, but that person would perhaps then turn to a life of crime, drug use etc. it would require a lot more ressources in terms of a case worker, increased law enforcement spending, cost for drug rehabilitation, possible incarceration, appearances in the judicial system etc. to try to bring that person back within the social normality. All that would cost a lot more to correct than 1.000 $. So it's an investment in people to avoid potentially much higher costs down the road. Some times it doesn't pay off, but the succesful cases makes it worth the while.
What I see over and over again - and not commented on in this video - is how well, in general, Europeans speak English. I see TV news or current affairs interviewing Europeans, Dutch, Swedes, Germans whatever, and they all speak English fluently, like these Danes. Go to English speaking countries like UK, Australia, America and see how many of the inhabitants speak a second language at all, never mind fluently.
well if so I hope you can cope with the darkness, the no 1 reason people who migrate to Scandinavia leave again is they cant live with the gloomy weather and darkness, from late October. to spring it is dark when you leave for work, and dark when you return from work , the no 2 reason is it's very hard to get friends as Scandinavians have very close friendships and family they usually have known the same friends since school , most migrants/expats end up being friends with other expats however it is possible to get to know locals but it's not easy and the language is difficult especially for English speakers because they can get by with English and they see people who speak English so they don't put in the effort , and the result is they never integrate really, if you are serious about living in the North thee are the things you need to think about , because it's a very different culture and what people tend to find out is they are very connected to their own culture
@bartdoo5757 just looked it up, DK and US both have about 15% immigrants. Besides that it's not even an applicable argument. The only factor is the difference in government, constitution etc. Americans are okay with huge income inequality. When I lived in NY I paid 25% taxes and get nothing for it. In DK I pay 40% and get everything.
I`m a dane, and I have been Living in a few other countries. We pay a lot of tax in Denmark, but we also get a lot of wellfare for “free”. So we dont have many trailer parks and a large sub culture of very poor people. We have a relative low crime rate ( but we are challanged by migration) All Young people have acces to the same Educations, payed for by the State. So you can become a doctor ect. Even if you come from a poor family. Denmark is a cool country, but we are not perfect… But the US could learn a lot from our system.
My sister stayed with a danish family 20 years ago for pro basketball in Copenhagen. They were the nicest people ever and visited us in the USA. They took long vacations (1-2 months at once) and loved the country They have almost no homeless people. Taxes were 50-60% I think. But it paid for everything
nobody pays 50-60% in taxes. Personally I pay 38% but I have an deductible, so its not 38% on my entire wage. We have a top tax bracket that is quit high. But this is only amount over the limit.
I am Danish. Happiness is not to be pursues it is a feeling. Our society gives some securities and that always away some fears. The enables that the lowest living standard in DK is still higher than average in many other countries
@@Worldaffairslover Lot of good came from the Vikings. Like for example the system with jurors in a court, that was the Vikings. And the Vikings was about a millennium ahead when it comes to women's rights, as there was essentially equal rights between the sexes. The Vikings were also great explorers, they was the first Europeans to travel to America.
@@Worldaffairslover Well, all nations have been treacherous at some point. For instance, The United States was stolen by white brits who enslaved and murdered the natives living there prior. History can be rough and the vikings did plunder other nations but as above mentioned it wasn't all bad.
No money almost certainly make you unhappy. Lots of money doesnt necessarily make you happy. Pursueing wealth alone can make you uncaring of the conditions your workers have and the damage to our enviroment.
The Danes have a high level of social trust that comes from homogeneity that the US will just never have, nor should we want to. The US's diversity is a part of what makes it so innovative...people all over the world come here to study, to create, to launch businesses and a lot of our economic success is due to those people. The fact is that Americans are more comfortable with the idea of low taxes and the idea of the possibility of making more $ (even if they'll never achieve it) and that's fine, as long as we understand the tradeoffs just as the Danes understand that they essentially pay for their happiness through taxes. Over time in the US, tax rates have fallen, people here have gotten less happy, and income inequality has gotten worse; these are very strongly correlated.
High taxes is basically irrelevant. What really matters is how much money you have left after taxes, and even though Denmark have one of the highest taxrates in the world, the average Dane still have more money after taxes than the average American does. And while the Americans are very innovative, it's not like the Danes lack far behind there either. It's fairly impressive that a country of only ~6 million people have the largest toy manufacturer in the world (LEGO), the largest shipping company in the world (Maersk), the largest transport and logistics company in the world (DSV) and the second largest Pharmaceutical company in the world (Novo Nordisk).
@Goldenfish-o5p US Debt: 122.3% of GDP DK debt: 29.3 % og GDP Source: Google "'country' debt rate" Sure, lets go with that... Yes, Danish households have a higher debt rate than most Western countries, but the vast majority (85%+) of those loans are bank/mortage loans backed by assets (ie. the house!!) rendering them basically secure loans.
@Goldenfish-o5p Really? The public debt of the US is something like 122% of GDP, the Denmark debt is 29% og GDP. The net debt of the US is 118%, the net debt of Denmark is +18%. Granted Danish household debt is rather high in international statistics, but the vast majority (85+%) is bank/mortage loans backed by assets (ie. the value of the damn house). Something those statistics doesn't seem to care about...
Tourists are often baffled that Danes don't smile, since it supposedly is the "happiest country". People in Denmark are not overly "happy" but they are "content".
@60minutes - Dane here weighing in. The price for our safety net of course depends largely on ones pre-tax deductions. But by and large one can say that if one looks at ones gross earnings, and looks at the paid income taxes - which are deducted from the pay check _and_ paid to the IRS by ones employer - then it works out to be close to 35% of the gross earnings. Then there is the horrendous sales tax on _EVERYTHING_ .... A whopping 25%. I love the U.S. dearly, but comparing the 2 countries in terms of safety nets et al, I know where I prefer to live.... Especially given the fact that I'm not filthy rich.
Very impressed by this video. Sure, must eat more Danish cookies to make a resolution. Manage your expectation. Be contented. US greedy hegemony reflects a lot of the American dream, more the better but that has a heavy price to attain.
The ranking as the most democratic country in the world probably doesn’t hurt the happiness. Should give the US at 34th with a ‘deficient democracy’ on the list something to think about. You rank lower than Costa Rica, the Baltics and even Uruguay.
Hamlet lived in Elsinore? no that's a Shakespeare story, there is no Prince Hamlet, the story is based on a story of Amlet meaning fool as he acted a fool, the story appear in Saxo Grammaticus history of the Danes a Danish historian who wrote it around 1180-1200 AD , since he could not have been called fool it may not be based on a true story, but nobody knows for sure in the original story Amlet lives in Jutland not Elsinore, Shakespeare placed the story there due to the castle and it's a completely diff. time in history
We are not rich or happy because we pay taxes, but because we work hard in a fair system we are rich - and can pay taxes to have a fair system provide a lot of very nice services. That is a good foundation for happiness but not a guarantee.
We Trust our government and the corruption is the lowest in the world, plus our infrastructure is Pretty good! But as we know, there is always room for Improvement!!👈😁😋
In the USA, we/most want it all but NOT pay for any of it!! Just nuts that kids don't get BASIC ECONOMIC/MACRO econ 101 education so they understand the TRADEOFFS, lower taxes=way less security system, more taxes and you'll get it like the "Happiest on the planet", the Danes : ) Many Americans receiving social security don't know it is a Federal entity behind it. However 50% is a lot of tax!
I am a Dane and i only pay 40% in taxes But they always forget that all people in Denmark also have their deductables, i think i have around 952 USD a month that i dont pay taxes for, so the taxes is actually lover than 40 %. And the deductables changes from person to person because we have all kinds of deductables. the income taxes differs from region to region, i think most people pay around 38% to 41% . The people who pays higher taxes is people that get a salary that is more than 7815 USD a month, and they only pay the high tax for evrything above the 7815 USD they pay 38% to 41% for evrything under 7815 USD, and they also have their deductables on top of that. the highest tax in Denmark is 52% if i remember right.
We pay no taxes for the first 60-70.000, then around 40%. If you earn like 750.000 or so, you pay an additional tax on that money. I believe it's around 50%. All numbers in DKK, which is around 7 DKK for a dollar. So, 0-60.000 no tax. 60.000 to 750.000 40%. 750.000 and up, 50%. When you get your paycheck, taxes are already withdrawn. Doing taxes for most people here in Denmark, is a 5 minute job once a year, unlike a week in the US.
Danes are nr 2 or 3 on the list of tallest nations. I’m 5’8 living in Denmark. Most women here are around my height. There are also plenty of taller women than my 5’8. Yes i’m single.
We have a great social system - that doesn't equal happiness. 1 in 4 Danes either use or will, at some point, anti depressives. But you don't have to worry about not being able to afford help.
Compare the percentages of satisfied citizens. Better yet, go see for yourself. If you're locked into the idea that nothing anywhere could ever be better or even as good as in the U.S. you're ignorant or or delusional.
@oppenheim2 Thousands have been dying every year while trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Greece, Italy, and Spain. There are Afghan immigrants in Norway. Their are truck loads of people (and sometimes bodies) arrested in the Channel Tunnel. They are desperately trying to get into the U.K. Newsflash.....The U.S. isn't the world.
I think the reality is that people who are truly happy are out doing things - and they are not wasting their time taking surveys - and not so interested in what others think. In other words, your surveys are very unbalanced with those who chose to take them and those who wouldn't even consider taking them. Happiness is a state of mind. Not a place.😉😇
@oriherzl4712 my point is that a whole lot of Demark is taking surveys, aka not out enjoying life...but taking surveys. The people I know that are out hiking, surfing, boarding, biking, camping, boating, kayaking ETC would never ever waste their time taking a survey to "prove" they're "happy". They're too busy living happy.
@@Fedgery007 The radical right says this all the time. Everyone know that free means free for the users not free for all. This is just an attempt to mock our system. Why?
Not anymore actually. But true 25 years ago and back. Then we were rather high on the curve. But look up reality today and you will find that our focused efforts have brought fruit.
it doesn't fit now, I'm Danish myself, I've never been asked, it seems that those who make these measurements ask the same questions every time there are older people who are far from well, children who are unhappy and don't feel well, there is a high tax since the public and the state have to be kept running there are over 870,000 employees for a population of 5.5 million people expensive energy heat and electricity fuel so no the Danes are not happier than other people
Jo det gør. Du har nogle af de absolut billigste huspriser i forhold til indkomst. Strøm priserne i Danmark ex afgift er billige og solceller + batterier er, så billige nu, at du komplet idiot, hvis du ikke har det. Hvis du ikke tror vi er "welloff" i forhold til resten af verden, så burde du omskoles
Im from Denmark..this is bull..our system is only a system that functions for rich people..people whit status..Our sickest people and homeless people and our children in institutions and schools and our old people the ones who build Denmark up for us and not least our children from broken homes.. does NOT get the so much needed help..Denmark DO NOT help their own society..though Mette Frederiksen was voted for because she promised Denmark this so much needed help..
I think you need to travel a bit, watch the lives of those, not so fortunate. Maybe you will be more greatful, of what you have here? I feel SO lucky, that I was born here 🙂
What religions teach about HAPPINESS is no match with what the Bible teaches is TRUE HAPPINESS. Jehovah is called The Happy God. Jesus taught others about his father and people understood that they could be happy despite hardships. ❤
Nowadays Denmark and Sweden are no go zones for regular EU citizens. Muslim immigrants, North Afrikan or Arab Crime Families have moved to these countries because they are soft on capital crimes. If you try to protect yourself from harm the chance is you will go to jail with a harsh sentence, however the poor disenfranchised immigrants will never be found.
I don't know why you lump DK and SWE together on this matter. Our (danish) immigrant policy has been heavily critizised by the UN and the EU because it is "inhumane" (very strict). Whereas Sweden pretty much had open borders.
in what way? denmark surpasses the US on many aspects. denmark is one of the most modern countries in the world. the US is a 3rd world country. always have been and always will be. LOL
Its a comokete myth, my two best friends are Danish and they say it being the "happiest" place is a joke, they hate the excessive taxation of everything, it makes them and all the people they know miserable
The tax is what makes Denmark such a nice place to be.. I can lose my job and still be okay, I can get super sick and not go broke, I can decide that i want a brand new education and I wont have to spend a dime.
Wauw you must have super conservative friends then. I don't know anybody, family or friends, that would want big tax cuts because they know the money bennefit us all and they will just end up having to pay more in daycare or whatever. Oh and even though I pay higher taxes it takes me 5 min to do my taxes each year. How long does it take you? And before you get too, "oh their taxes are sooo high". Just go back 50 years in the US. They were WAY higher.
I'm Danish. I pay my taxes with pleasure and so do most people I know ..... however, many of us believe that the government are spending more and more money on things that are not relevant, and that might change the situation in the future. I don't want to pay less taxes, but I want the government to spend my money more wisely.
Today, there is a lot of violent crime that goes unreported - its definitely not as safe today than it was around 17 years ago in 2008 when this episode was broadcast.
These young Danes carry on a sophisticated conversation in excellent English. Impressive.
Many Scandinavians speak better English than some Americans (especially tRumpers LOL).
@@dgaydos danes are terrible at speaking english fluently. While we understand the language and can write it perfectly, it somehow dosen't translate into us speaking it well. Danglish, as it is commonly referred to as. You will always be able to tell when someone speaking english is danish or not, due to our disgusting accent. yes, I am harsh on us, but seriously, the swedes and Norwegians speak english fluently.
@@frederikwegnerfrost-jensen4454 Au contraire! Be easy on yourselves. Americans like the Danish accent 🙂
@@frederikwegnerfrost-jensen4454 Ah, janteloven. Take the damn compliment instead of belittling other people.
@@frederikwegnerfrost-jensen4454 The Swedes and Norwegian has just as much accent as us, and I can promise you that the American ladies loved my accent when I lived in Chicago. Stop talking crap 🤣
By paying high taxes the Danes provide a social safety net for themselves that eliminates the typical American stressors. No wonder they’re happy (or content). They don’t have to worry about having a roof over their heads, or hospital bills that drive them to bankruptcy, or having to scrape by on fast-food jobs because they have a good, free education. Frankly, their investment in their lives makes a lot more sense than ours.
As a Dane, I can tell you that the happiness in our country is slowly fading away for many of us. ;) but the Viking in us will forever stay strong.
@ May I ask the source of discontent?
@@Justin1337Sane As a Dane, I don´t see it fading away. People will always want more or less of something, we have different needs. But there is not a day, where I am not grateful, that I was born and raised here 🙂
@@Justin1337Saneplease reply why. Is it related to racism. If it is let me point out that nobody chose their race and point of origin. Just as Europeans Explored the world now other races will roam the planet and it's simply history taking it's course.
Paying 90% in tax and having a healthcare system that's number 1 in killing people in the EU, does not make me happy. Everything costs money now and there is very little free for the huge tax we pay. The socialist regime is a kleptocracy constantly raising their own salaries, while ripping off the people in every possible way. Highest suicide rate, Highest divorce rate, most children growing up with one parent, kids can't read, can't do math and are indoctrinated into a socialist mindset. it's a fekking mess, so don't believe in this propaganda presented by one of the most untrustworthy msm garbage outlet of all time. Socialism will be the end of this country with nearly half of the workforce employed by government, it is bound to fail. We don't have a single independent media, everything is narrated by the regime.
In Denmark you aren't taught to be ambitious, you are taught to be a good citizen
1. in Happiness: TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE for a job/income, 2. Friends and family, 3. Good economy and 4. Good health
With a work/life balance, having a work/job that you love is not neccesary, you just need at job that pays the bills and that you don’t actually hate. Best regards, A Dane :-)
Urgency and gratitude are the main ingredients to be happy. Urgency is to in control of one's life and gratitude is to be thankful for what you achieve and have.
Im from Denmark🇩🇰 And yes, i do love my svenske, og norske brothers and sisters ✌️
When your happy, you are healthier.
I lived in Denmark for a few years in the mid 1980s. Paying the taxes is definitely better. It is the "have more by having less" reality. The return on those taxes is vast over a lifetime. Scraping around for nickels and dimes in the current moment is ruinous. Having a well laid out vision for a lifetime is nice, quite nice. By the way, the idea of "workaholic" is about working to excess without compensation and without better alternatives in one's life for a meaningful life. With a meaningful life in play, why work to excess? There are plenty of people and plenty of jobs. On the other hand, more important than "workaholic" is the idea of work ethic. The preference to have a job, to be gainfully employed, to contribute to the larger whole, is to have a work ethic. It is far more important to have a work ethic than to spend excessive amounts of time at one's job; instead of with family, friends and other ways to participate in civil society.
That is the challenge for Americans in the US. How to we find a more healthy way of having jobs and lives with our family, friends and community.
You create your own life in The United States. Don't follow the masses and every fad that comes along.
Remarkably the best hotdogs in the world
Ask any Scandinavian if they think they pay high taxes. Most will say yes. Ask the same person if they'd want to pay less tax and forego free education and free healthcare and all would say no.
Free? You mean the way nuclear subs are free?
As someone who lived in the 3rd world country Philippines, I admire Denmark as a whole country its a sort of paradise for me. ❤😊
I’ll save you from watching. The Danes aren’t brainwashed materialists…
Spot on! 🎯
Living in Denmark 🇩🇰
Homeless people in Denmark is a choice
Because all citizens are required to be helped by the state
Many homeless here are sick and can’t not live a normal life
If you go to jail you can get a education and so on
Love my country
And proud to be Danish
Does the Danish government provide housing to its citizens then?
@@The_Crow78. yes and a monthly payment from the state 🙂
Nothing is "rotten" in the state of Denmark!
We are among the happiest people in the world because over all we have a good life. Everyone has a good chance in life. Due to the fact that we all have augural rigths and the same opportunities. We all have the same right to help if we fall ild or unemployed. We really dont have that fare distant from the bottom to the top meaning that most people actual fee like they can succeed in life. Yes,! We do pay a lot in tax but we actually do get a lot in return for what we pay. Such as free health / hospital care. Free education + studens salary/ payment for attending schools after 9th or 10th years. What's keeps everything in place is labors unions / ' den danske arbejderkedsmodel'
... low or non-existent corruption ...
@@rustyspottedcat8885 Part of it. It is really about trust, while it is not like there isn't crime there is little compared to many nations. And not only that, but there is just a general trust among people, if in need there is high certainty that even a stranger will go to great lengths to help you and you can be sure society as a whole will help.
@@bzdtemp In general i would say that the worst crime is related to drugs, and therefor gangs. Which the most dans don't take part in.
@@1Tulipan23 In general I would say it sounds like you know nothing.
@@bzdtemp You mig be right up against my 57 years. Working as a self-employed since I was 21 and bring up 3 kids that all have at least one master degree. without me paying a dime?
Interesting that the Danes are happy to give up half their income to taxes for a lifetime of social programs. I fear that here in the US, people do not trust the government to spend their tax money wisely, nor do they want to see their tax money being spent on people they do not deem worthy of help. While we do have a pork project and military spending problem, social programs tend to return excellent value to its constituents, even if they are not particularly efficient. Privatization of social programs has shifted the goal from helping constituents, to shareholder profit. Capitalism has its place, but it does not serve the people well in healthcare, the justice system, and education.
For the majoritet of us in Denmark its not half our income in tax. The Richer you are, the more tax you pay
you end of paying the same in the US, there are Americans living in Denmark who makes youtube videos one is called "Robe trotting" and "traveling young" they say they end up with about the same, travelling young have a video where they go through all tax and bills ect. Denmark vs Ohio where they lived it's the same because you don't pay for healthcare or education, the diff. is in the US if you get seriously ill it ends up costing way way more, one thing however some Americans who look at wage Denmark vs the USA forget to compare are the hours worked to get the wage they have, in Denmark we work less full time is 37 hours a week and we have 5-6 weeks of vacation plus a lot of traditional holidays (Christian holidays most of them) I think one of the problems you have in the US is you pay way to much for healthcare, some want private healthcare some public, some tax financed some separate but the main thing is it's supposed to be affordable and I'm quite chocked to hear how much you actually pays a month and then it does not even cover everything far from it
It should be looked as an investment in people. Like you say social programs have an excellent return value.
If for example the cost of helping a person through a social programme would require a 1.000 $. That person would perhaps get a job or education, and be a contributing member of the community and paying his own.
On the other hand if help was refused or there were no social programme, the government/taxpayers would save the 1.000 $, but that person would perhaps then turn to a life of crime, drug use etc. it would require a lot more ressources in terms of a case worker, increased law enforcement spending, cost for drug rehabilitation, possible incarceration, appearances in the judicial system etc. to try to bring that person back within the social normality. All that would cost a lot more to correct than 1.000 $.
So it's an investment in people to avoid potentially much higher costs down the road.
Some times it doesn't pay off, but the succesful cases makes it worth the while.
What I see over and over again - and not commented on in this video - is how well, in general, Europeans speak English. I see TV news or current affairs interviewing Europeans, Dutch, Swedes, Germans whatever, and they all speak English fluently, like these Danes. Go to English speaking countries like UK, Australia, America and see how many of the inhabitants speak a second language at all, never mind fluently.
Look at a map. We have roughly 400 million people in north america who speak english. We have no need for another language.
In 2008 People didnt look at their phones. They looked in the newspaper.
The American Dream is exactly that.
That’s it I’m moving
Don't be deceived.
well if so I hope you can cope with the darkness, the no 1 reason people who migrate to Scandinavia leave again is they cant live with the gloomy weather and darkness, from late October. to spring it is dark when you leave for work, and dark when you return from work , the no 2 reason is it's very hard to get friends as Scandinavians have very close friendships and family they usually have known the same friends since school , most migrants/expats end up being friends with other expats however it is possible to get to know locals but it's not easy and the language is difficult especially for English speakers because they can get by with English and they see people who speak English so they don't put in the effort , and the result is they never integrate really, if you are serious about living in the North thee are the things you need to think about , because it's a very different culture and what people tend to find out is they are very connected to their own culture
@@veronicajensen7690Still the happiest! 😉🇩🇰
Would love to welcome you and get you settled in! 🙂
He said it in the beginning - we are heavy drinkers and smokers. Of course we are happy
If you want the American Dream, it only exists in Scandinavia
What are you talking about?
@bartdoo5757 equality of opportunity, social mobility, freedom. Denmark is light years ahead of the US on these things.
@kerbyt More homogeneous country is another factor between the two countries.
@bartdoo5757 just looked it up, DK and US both have about 15% immigrants. Besides that it's not even an applicable argument. The only factor is the difference in government, constitution etc.
Americans are okay with huge income inequality. When I lived in NY I paid 25% taxes and get nothing for it. In DK I pay 40% and get everything.
@@bartdoo5757You know what he’s talking about. Stop being obtuse
I`m a dane, and I have been Living in a few other countries. We pay a lot of tax in Denmark, but we also get a lot of wellfare for “free”. So we dont have many trailer parks and a large sub culture of very poor people. We have a relative low crime rate ( but we are challanged by migration) All Young people have acces to the same Educations, payed for by the State. So you can become a doctor ect. Even if you come from a poor family. Denmark is a cool country, but we are not perfect… But the US could learn a lot from our system.
My sister stayed with a danish family 20 years ago for pro basketball in Copenhagen. They were the nicest people ever and visited us in the USA. They took long vacations (1-2 months at once) and loved the country
They have almost no homeless people. Taxes were 50-60% I think. But it paid for everything
nobody pays 50-60% in taxes. Personally I pay 38% but I have an deductible, so its not 38% on my entire wage. We have a top tax bracket that is quit high. But this is only amount over the limit.
@@mgrization you're not danish so what are you talking about
@@mgrization such an American answer
I’m Danish. And i pay 38%, which is pretty standard here
@@ShawnLH88 how do you know im not danish?
I am Danish.
Happiness is not to be pursues it is a feeling.
Our society gives some securities and that always away some fears. The enables that the lowest living standard in DK is still higher than average in many other countries
Some of these people are descendants of Vikings.
Thr Vikings were treacherous
@@Worldaffairslover Lot of good came from the Vikings.
Like for example the system with jurors in a court, that was the Vikings. And the Vikings was about a millennium ahead when it comes to women's rights, as there was essentially equal rights between the sexes.
The Vikings were also great explorers, they was the first Europeans to travel to America.
@@Worldaffairslover Well, all nations have been treacherous at some point. For instance, The United States was stolen by white brits who enslaved and murdered the natives living there prior. History can be rough and the vikings did plunder other nations but as above mentioned it wasn't all bad.
No money almost certainly make you unhappy.
Lots of money doesnt necessarily make you happy.
Pursueing wealth alone can make you uncaring of the conditions your workers have and the damage to our enviroment.
You dont go hunt for happiness.
happiness will find you
the only thing that will find you if you wait for happiness is dust, you can always trust dust will find you everywhere
@@veronicajensen7690 Trust me on this.. Im a dane
@@martinwinther6013 det er jeg også, lykken kommer ikke bare for de fleste, det betyder selvfølgelig ikke at den så gør fordi man flytter
Hi yes its Denmark is very nice and also Happiness country thank you,
The Danes have a high level of social trust that comes from homogeneity that the US will just never have, nor should we want to. The US's diversity is a part of what makes it so innovative...people all over the world come here to study, to create, to launch businesses and a lot of our economic success is due to those people. The fact is that Americans are more comfortable with the idea of low taxes and the idea of the possibility of making more $ (even if they'll never achieve it) and that's fine, as long as we understand the tradeoffs just as the Danes understand that they essentially pay for their happiness through taxes. Over time in the US, tax rates have fallen, people here have gotten less happy, and income inequality has gotten worse; these are very strongly correlated.
Well written and true. I would gladly pay more taxes if everyone did and the class structure was more equal.
So well written and true, yes.
High taxes is basically irrelevant. What really matters is how much money you have left after taxes, and even though Denmark have one of the highest taxrates in the world, the average Dane still have more money after taxes than the average American does. And while the Americans are very innovative, it's not like the Danes lack far behind there either. It's fairly impressive that a country of only ~6 million people have the largest toy manufacturer in the world (LEGO), the largest shipping company in the world (Maersk), the largest transport and logistics company in the world (DSV) and the second largest Pharmaceutical company in the world (Novo Nordisk).
@Goldenfish-o5p
US Debt: 122.3% of GDP
DK debt: 29.3 % og GDP
Source: Google "'country' debt rate"
Sure, lets go with that...
Yes, Danish households have a higher debt rate than most Western countries, but the vast majority (85%+) of those loans are bank/mortage loans backed by assets (ie. the house!!) rendering them basically secure loans.
@Goldenfish-o5p
Really?
The public debt of the US is something like 122% of GDP, the Denmark debt is 29% og GDP. The net debt of the US is 118%, the net debt of Denmark is +18%.
Granted Danish household debt is rather high in international statistics, but the vast majority (85+%) is bank/mortage loans backed by assets (ie. the value of the damn house). Something those statistics doesn't seem to care about...
#namo #modi #bjp #inc #congress this is the India we need to create
Tourists are often baffled that Danes don't smile, since it supposedly is the "happiest country". People in Denmark are not overly "happy" but they are "content".
its not that we are more happy, we are just less sad
so the Danes don't like talking to each other?
@60minutes - Dane here weighing in. The price for our safety net of course depends largely on ones pre-tax deductions. But by and large one can say that if one looks at ones gross earnings, and looks at the paid income taxes - which are deducted from the pay check _and_ paid to the IRS by ones employer - then it works out to be close to 35% of the gross earnings. Then there is the horrendous sales tax on _EVERYTHING_ .... A whopping 25%.
I love the U.S. dearly, but comparing the 2 countries in terms of safety nets et al, I know where I prefer to live.... Especially given the fact that I'm not filthy rich.
As an Upper East Sider, I must report that folks around us seem quite happy. 😌
Tell yourself that
Very impressed by this video. Sure, must eat more Danish cookies to make a resolution. Manage your expectation. Be contented. US greedy hegemony reflects a lot of the American dream, more the better but that has a heavy price to attain.
So the Danes don't like talking to each other in public. Are they anti-social then?
Before the mobil phome !
Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet talk about low expectations all the time.
its called the american dream - cause you have to be a sleep to believe it 😜
That is the reality these days.
Quote by the great George Carlin.
Yes and we also dont let the woman say much 😂
The ranking as the most democratic country in the world probably doesn’t hurt the happiness. Should give the US at 34th with a ‘deficient democracy’ on the list something to think about. You rank lower than Costa Rica, the Baltics and even Uruguay.
Why don't you asked the people who measure and calculate happiness?
2008.
Hamlet lived in Elsinore? no that's a Shakespeare story, there is no Prince Hamlet, the story is based on a story of Amlet meaning fool as he acted a fool, the story appear in Saxo Grammaticus history of the Danes a Danish historian who wrote it around 1180-1200 AD , since he could not have been called fool it may not be based on a true story, but nobody knows for sure in the original story Amlet lives in Jutland not Elsinore, Shakespeare placed the story there due to the castle and it's a completely diff. time in history
Danmark 🇩🇰 er i nyhederne
We are not rich or happy because we pay taxes, but because we work hard in a fair system we are rich - and can pay taxes to have a fair system provide a lot of very nice services. That is a good foundation for happiness but not a guarantee.
My algorithm be low key all this shot
We Trust our government and the corruption is the lowest in the world, plus our infrastructure is Pretty good!
But as we know, there is always room for Improvement!!👈😁😋
The us should understand , thath the nordic countries is not a union , but wee are more united than the us
In the USA, we/most want it all but NOT pay for any of it!! Just nuts that kids don't get BASIC ECONOMIC/MACRO econ 101 education so they understand the TRADEOFFS, lower taxes=way less security system, more taxes and you'll get it like the "Happiest on the planet", the Danes : ) Many Americans receiving social security don't know it is a Federal entity behind it. However 50% is a lot of tax!
I am a Dane and i only pay 40% in taxes But they always forget that all people in Denmark also have their deductables, i think i have around 952 USD a month that i dont pay taxes for, so the taxes is actually lover than 40 %. And the deductables changes from person to person because we have all kinds of deductables. the income taxes differs from region to region, i think most people pay around 38% to 41% .
The people who pays higher taxes is people that get a salary that is more than 7815 USD a month, and they only pay the high tax for evrything above the 7815 USD they pay 38% to 41% for evrything under 7815 USD, and they also have their deductables on top of that. the highest tax in Denmark is 52% if i remember right.
We pay no taxes for the first 60-70.000, then around 40%. If you earn like 750.000 or so, you pay an additional tax on that money. I believe it's around 50%. All numbers in DKK, which is around 7 DKK for a dollar.
So, 0-60.000 no tax.
60.000 to 750.000 40%.
750.000 and up, 50%.
When you get your paycheck, taxes are already withdrawn. Doing taxes for most people here in Denmark, is a 5 minute job once a year, unlike a week in the US.
💛💛💛
Tallest people on average
That's the Dutch.
Danes are nr 2 or 3 on the list of tallest nations. I’m 5’8 living in Denmark. Most women here are around my height. There are also plenty of taller women than my 5’8. Yes i’m single.
16 year old clip...
We have a great social system - that doesn't equal happiness. 1 in 4 Danes either use or will, at some point, anti depressives. But you don't have to worry about not being able to afford help.
Its the power of the Janteloven ..
those were good times, we f**k it up since then in Denmark, it get's worse and worse...
Yes europe is so happy and content they cant be bothered to repopulate.
Alcohol works
I’m willing to pay 50 percent taxes. For more social programs
as a dane i dont pay 50 percent but 35, and i dont complain, i love Denmark
Drink...smoke...eat tons o fish....secret to happiness,,,,ohh yes n dont talk to anyone😂😂😂😂.i am happ peeeee. 😮.tc
No one eats fish here - it's just a tale
@@Mr.J689I do.
Its all to do with the amount of people living in the country, a bit like a town compared to a city..
Fertility rate is 1.5.
and so what?
There are millions more happy people in the US than the whole population of a tiny country like Denmark.
Compare the percentages of satisfied citizens. Better yet, go see for yourself. If you're locked into the idea that nothing anywhere could ever be better or even as good as in the U.S. you're ignorant or or delusional.
@ Try figuring out millions risk their lives to come to the US.
@oppenheim2 Thousands have been dying every year while trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Greece, Italy, and Spain. There are Afghan immigrants in Norway. Their are truck loads of people (and sometimes bodies) arrested in the Channel Tunnel. They are desperately trying to get into the U.K.
Newsflash.....The U.S. isn't the world.
@ Even British Royalty likes Southern CA.
@oppenheim2 British Royalty...now there's a joke that tells itself 🤑
I hate this place so much
2nd
I think the reality is that people who are truly happy are out doing things - and they are not wasting their time taking surveys - and not so interested in what others think. In other words, your surveys are very unbalanced with those who chose to take them and those who wouldn't even consider taking them. Happiness is a state of mind. Not a place.😉😇
The whole point of the report was about Denmark state of mind.
@oriherzl4712 my point is that a whole lot of Demark is taking surveys, aka not out enjoying life...but taking surveys. The people I know that are out hiking, surfing, boarding, biking, camping, boating, kayaking ETC would never ever waste their time taking a survey to "prove" they're "happy". They're too busy living happy.
What a load of nonsense .. yeah straight BS .. go do something useful.
Free? Nothing is free. 🤦🏻♂️
@@Fedgery007 The radical right says this all the time. Everyone know that free means free for the users not free for all.
This is just an attempt to mock our system.
Why?
Nope, we the Danes pay much money in tax
@@KRAMMEDYRET1 But not much more than others pay for insurance.
Leave it to the media to misconstrue
High numbers of suicid in Danmark…
Source please.
Boy Stop
Not anymore actually. But true 25 years ago and back. Then we were rather high on the curve. But look up reality today and you will find that our focused efforts have brought fruit.
it doesn't fit now, I'm Danish myself, I've never been asked, it seems that those who make these measurements ask the same questions every time there are older people who are far from well, children who are unhappy and don't feel well, there is a high tax since the public and the state have to be kept running there are over 870,000 employees for a population of 5.5 million people expensive energy heat and electricity fuel so no the Danes are not happier than other people
HØRT!
Jo det gør. Du har nogle af de absolut billigste huspriser i forhold til indkomst. Strøm priserne i Danmark ex afgift er billige og solceller + batterier er, så billige nu, at du komplet idiot, hvis du ikke har det.
Hvis du ikke tror vi er "welloff" i forhold til resten af verden, så burde du omskoles
@@mathiasjensen4434 Send ham på dannelsesrejse!
Low standards
Im from Denmark..this is bull..our system is only a system that functions for rich people..people whit status..Our sickest people and homeless people and our children in institutions and schools and our old people the ones who build Denmark up for us and not least our children from broken homes.. does NOT get the so much needed help..Denmark DO NOT help their own society..though Mette Frederiksen was voted for because she promised Denmark this so much needed help..
I think you need to travel a bit, watch the lives of those, not so fortunate. Maybe you will be more greatful, of what you have here? I feel SO lucky, that I was born here 🙂
Yea, try and live in other countries before you whine xD You are blinded by how good you have it.
The unhappy emigrated to the new world because they could not make it in Europe. Sorry about that.
What religions teach about HAPPINESS is no match with what the Bible teaches is TRUE HAPPINESS. Jehovah is called The Happy God. Jesus taught others about his father and people understood that they could be happy despite hardships. ❤
Jw?
Jw?
?
Nowadays Denmark and Sweden are no go zones for regular EU citizens.
Muslim immigrants, North Afrikan or Arab Crime Families have moved to these countries because they are soft on capital crimes.
If you try to protect yourself from harm the chance is you will go to jail with a harsh sentence, however the poor disenfranchised immigrants will never be found.
I was wondering how far down I'd have to go to see one of these lies
@@sontaron7 No, it's true! I've been murdered five times this month alone!
I don't know why you lump DK and SWE together on this matter. Our (danish) immigrant policy has been heavily critizised by the UN and the EU because it is "inhumane" (very strict). Whereas Sweden pretty much had open borders.
Denmark is not a serious state.
I live here. Seems pretty serious to me.
in what way? denmark surpasses the US on many aspects. denmark is one of the most modern countries in the world. the US is a 3rd world country. always have been and always will be. LOL
@HansPeterBechDK Good joke
Its a comokete myth, my two best friends are Danish and they say it being the "happiest" place is a joke, they hate the excessive taxation of everything, it makes them and all the people they know miserable
They’ll be back ! Danes almost always do, mainly so they can get the free healthcare that those who stayed here payed for. They’ll be back !
The tax is what makes Denmark such a nice place to be..
I can lose my job and still be okay, I can get super sick and not go broke, I can decide that i want a brand new education and I wont have to spend a dime.
The Danish guy in The Finnish guy that I know are happy to be in America😅
Wauw you must have super conservative friends then. I don't know anybody, family or friends, that would want big tax cuts because they know the money bennefit us all and they will just end up having to pay more in daycare or whatever. Oh and even though I pay higher taxes it takes me 5 min to do my taxes each year. How long does it take you? And before you get too, "oh their taxes are sooo high". Just go back 50 years in the US. They were WAY higher.
I'm Danish. I pay my taxes with pleasure and so do most people I know ..... however, many of us believe that the government are spending more and more money on things that are not relevant, and that might change the situation in the future.
I don't want to pay less taxes, but I want the government to spend my money more wisely.
Because there is less forced diversity
250.000 muslims in 40 years in a country of 5-6 mill.
Still have not turned into MAGA tin foil extremists.
What a dumb take
Seriously?
60 minutes is fake news 📰
Yep. News we don't like is very conveniently fake. News we like is of course not fake.
yep but im still happy and no its not fake, you wish it is, but you are so so wrong :)
Fake news
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Today, there is a lot of violent crime that goes unreported - its definitely not as safe today than it was around 17 years ago in 2008 when this episode was broadcast.
if its unreported, then how do you know this?
@@teesman3221 I have model friends in Denmark and Sweden that have told me stories over the last 10 years. You a troll?