Community Chat

[IndiaRose]

If Denmark can do it, why can' t we?

If you’re 51-year-old Lotte Geleff, who lost her job as an office clerk in January 2013, you know you’ll receive an unemployment benefit of 10,500 kroner (US$1,902) a month after taxes for up to two years. You’re part of a national system of free health care and education for everyone, job training, subsidized child care, a generous pension system and fuel subsidies and rent allowances for the elderly.

And high taxes.

Denmark’s sturdy social safety net helps explain why its wealth gap — the disparity between the richest citizens and everyone else — is second-smallest among the world’s 34 most developed economies, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, surpassed only by the much smaller economy of Slovenia.

Behind its slender wealth gap are factors ranging from the highest tax burden in the European Union to a system that helps laid-off workers find new jobs and re-training.

[Johnnyeager]

Denmark? Oh, it's that funny little country above Germany.

[ROMARY]

I'll have to look at a map, but I believe it's a very small country with way less people than us. High incomes, high taxes, not so many people = lots of free stuff.

[ROMARY]

p.s. And good for them!!

[ShowMe]

My uncle traveled to the AAA here in St. Louis.....on one of his trips to Europe he went to Copenhagen......met and fell in love with a very wonderful Danish woman from there. She too was with the AAA over there. When they got married he was in his early 40's and this was his first and only marriage. They did try to live here in the US, but she had such a difficult time adjusting and she so missed her elderly mother. So, my dear sweet uncle moved to Copenhagen so his wife would be happy. The started their own travel agency and were on Daughamerschauld (?) Alley ... across from the American Embassy. They had that business until he was stricken with Cancer, and spent his last days there...... I do know he loved it over there.....and yes, he got excellent medical care when he was so ill.

I do watch Rick Steve's travel shows on PBS, and he goes there often. It is a beautiful country.

[ROMARY]

I LOVE watching and experiencing Rick Steve's travels. I learn so much history in a very warm, relaxing way.

[ShowMe]

On 2/1/2015 ROMARY 1 said:

I LOVE watching and experiencing Rick Steve's travels. I learn so much history in a very warm, relaxing way.

I watch a lot of different things on the PBS, World, and Create channels. That is mostly where I watch TV shows from. And I really like their news shows.......

[newziesuzie]

On 2/1/2015 ShowMe said:

On 2/1/2015 ROMARY 1 said:

I LOVE watching and experiencing Rick Steve's travels. I learn so much history in a very warm, relaxing way.

I watch a lot of different things on the PBS, World, and Create channels. That is mostly where I watch TV shows from. And I really like their news shows.......

I like those too.

[Lindsays Grandma]

We have become the nation of free handouts. Denmark sounds like a nice place to live, a country that cares for its people.

[millieshops]

I bet some citizens are not so happy! I just Googled cost of living in Denmark, taxation, etc.

They have the highest cost of living in Europe. One reason is taxes - average of 60.2 for high incomes - that would be someone earning $55,000 which doesn't sound like high-income to most in the US.

The writers of the article I read cautioned US residents thinking of moving to Denmark that they should be sure to get a good understanding of the tax setup before they go.