[Culturechat] Denmark: A Case Study in Social Democracy (From Mises Insti...

[Samovar9@aol.com]

I spent four years in Denmark in the 1970s working at the American Embassy.  
I had long been interested in the social democracy experiments in the 
Scandinavian countries.  Seeing Denmark at close hand and talking with many Danish 
friends, I concluded that the social and economic systems in Denmark had some 
serious failings but, on the whole, were probably beneficial to the average Dane 
- more so if he had a chronically sick wife and many children to put through 
college; less so for others.

The Hansen article which "WesTexas" sent, for which I thank him, provides an 
update on what seems to be a seriously deteriorating situation in Denmark.  I 
have no reason to doubt his statistics but I have a problem with one of his 
claims.  He states: "One option for young people is to leave. It was recently 
proposed by one of the three economists from the Danish Economic Council that if 
young people in Denmark wish to move abroad after they have completed their 
education, they should first have to pay back the costs of their education. 
Only when they have paid enough taxes to cover all the expenses of their 
education, would they be able to move abroad without having to pay the government 
first."

Since Denmark is a member of the European Union, its members may move freely 
throughout the Union states and without restrictions. As I recall, only an 
identity card is needed for such travel and, of course, a valid driver's license 
if driving.  Therefore, even if the Danish government wanted to require 
payback of education expenses, it could not do so.  Should a Dane wish to emigrate 
to a country outside of the European Union, he/she would need a passport which 
could be used for any purpose.  I find it hard to conceive of a government 
(particularly Denmark) putting a restriction on a passport of the sort indicated.

Paul