Favorite Country M-Z (round 3)

[politicus]

USA Sweden is the objectively superior country.

[politicus]

USA to spite the internet's (and social-liberal political culture's, in general) Sweden fixation.

Yes, we love the country that has the most extensive, universalistic and egalitarian welfare system because we are "social-liberals".

I highly doubt that is true today.

[politicus]

USA to spite the internet's (and social-liberal political culture's, in general) Sweden fixation.

Yes, we love the country that has the most extensive, universalistic and egalitarian welfare system because we are "social-liberals".

I highly doubt that is true today.

I know it's not what it used to be, but what other country would you cite as a contender to that title? Apart from maybe Norway, I can't see any.

Of the three Scandinavian countries with the most ambitious universal welfare states Sweden has cut/trimmed the most. Danish right wingers has a slogan that they want "Swedish taxes and German wages". When it comes to things like unemployment benefits and student aid Denmark actually has the most generous rates and most inclusive systems. Sweden is good on the child related stuff (maternity leave etc.), but so is Norway.

Generally I would rank them:

1. Norway 2. Denmark 3. Sweden on the parameters you set up.

[politicus]

If I honestly thought any country was better than the US then I would move there. No such country exists therefore I vote USA. Although I am also fond of my current temporary residence of South Korea.

We do not live in a free migration world, so that is just silly.

[politicus]

@Antonio: Just heard a radio interview with Professor in polsci Ove Kaj Petersen, who is a leading expert on Nordic welfare states, and according to him Denmark has both the largest welfare state, the highest tax rate and the highest redistribution effect in the world. He also says DK has upheld the Nordic model in its most comprehensive form and cites things like the continued importance of collective agreements on the labour market and strength of trade unions. He estimates Sweden has gone furthest in "a neo-liberal direction" of the Scandinavian countries (which means Swe/No/Dk in Danish). So the ranking is apparently 1. Denmark 2. Norway 3. Sweden. With the caveat that I do not know enough about Finland to rate it relative to Sweden, but I would assume the Swedish welfare state is still more comprehensive than the Finnish.