Questions About Norway

[VetLegion]

Norway is interesting because it is a common European capitalist country that is also rich in oil. I am interested in what effect did those large oil revenues have on economy and society.

I've never been there to see the gold-plated streets with my own eyes so I'm going to ask here and if you know the answers, please reply.

- does Norway have universal healthcare?
- are pensions payed from personal savings or taxes?
- is education free all the way including University level?
- does Norway send money from oil revenues to citizens to spend, like Alberta in Canada does?
- how big are the unemployment benefits compared to average salary?
- we never hear about corruption but given the sums involved in the oil busness, there must be some?
- is the government a big part of the economy?

Basically, what benefits is the common Norwegian enjoying over the common Swede or the above average Dane? How has the oil revenue helped to rise the living standard in Norway?

[Lancer]

I've heard that if you're a Norwegian man that Norwegian women want nothing to do with you.

[Dauphin]

Kenya pisses on Norway.

[Starchild]

Norway puts the money from oil into a big fund that it then uses to invest in various things and funds its generous welfare state from income and sales tax revenues as far as I understand the matter.

[VetLegion]

You mean they have all this money... and they aren't spending it? I find that hard to believe.

[Dauphin]

You should have a look at the list of companies that the Petroleum (Pension) Fund isn't allowed to invest in because of ethical concerns. It includes Wal-Mart.

[Starchild]

Originally posted by VetLegion
You mean they have all this money... and they aren't spending it? I find that hard to believe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4223148.stm

Most of it is saved and invested in a fund for the day when the oil eventually runs out. This nest egg is now worth £103bn ($189bn).

They're Scandinavians. Squeaky clean politics to the point where it makes the Brits and Germans look as corrupt as Nigerian oil merchants.

[Nikolai]

All up to

Originally posted by VetLegion
- does Norway have universal healthcare?

Yep. And we complain all the time of the quality. Which we probably shouldn't.

- are pensions payed from personal savings or taxes?

You build up your pension throughout the years of working, and it is payed through the taxes.

- is education free all the way including University level?

All up to and including high school it is free, when you get to university you have to pay. But not much, and you can get cheap education loans and stipends from the state.

- does Norway send money from oil revenues to citizens to spend, like Alberta in Canada does?

Norway collects most of the revenues in an oil fund, which we have a rule of not using more than 1% or something of per year. All parties agree on that except one(which is our second largest party and still a pariah here, but that's another matter). The fund is planned to be used on social services, in primary pensions, when we in the future get the huge amounts of pensioners.

- how big are the unemployment benefits compared to average salary?

Lower, of course. Don't know how low, but large enough that one can live on it. Which some know to exploit.

- we never hear about corruption but given the sums involved in the oil busness, there must be some?

We Norwegians are a naive and trusting people. We thing good on ourself in this respect. Yes, we rank in the good end of the corruption scale that is published every year, but I have no beleif we are completely innocent or anything.

- is the government a big part of the economy?

It has sold itself quite a bit down during the late 80s and the 90s, but it is a big part of the economy indeed.

Basically, what benefits is the common Norwegian enjoying over the common Swede or the above average Dane? How has the oil revenue helped to rise the living standard in Norway?

I don't know Danish and Swedish society good enough to answer that I'm afraid.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Dauphin
Kenya pisses on Norway.

[BeBMan]

Norway has fjords, which are an improvement compared to lions, since fjords don't attack people

[Krill]

Dauphin posting a good link

[VetLegion]

Re: All up to

Originally posted by Nikolai
Norway collects most of the revenues in an oil fund, which we have a rule of not using more than 1% or something of per year. All parties agree on that except one(which is our second largest party and still a pariah here, but that's another matter). The fund is planned to be used on social services, in primary pensions, when we in the future get the huge amounts of pensioners.

That's silly. One enjoys life much more as a young person than as a pensioner and should also spend money as a young person.

Oil is a gift that says "take this and party". Every Norwegian should have a free long around the world trip every two years and holidays at state expense each year

[Colonâ„¢]

Re: Questions About Norway

Originally posted by VetLegion
I've never been there to see the gold-plated streets with my own eyes

The streets are actually surprisingly crappy.

[Nikolai]

Re: Re: All up to

Originally posted by VetLegion


That's silly. One enjoys life much more as a young person than as a pensioner and should also spend money as a young person.

Oil is a gift that says "take this and party". Every Norwegian should have a free long around the world trip every two years and holidays at state expense each year

All economists and most politicians as a result of that, claims spending the money would wreck our economy.

[Nikolai]

Re: Re: Questions About Norway

Originally posted by Colonâ„¢


The streets are actually surprisingly crappy.

Yep. We complain about that all the time.