The Nordic model assumes a rested worker is a productive worker.
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Everything from child-labor laws to Social Security after all is a result of popular action.
But it’s not just our own history we have to look toward.
Too often we’re unaware of other societies that have tackled similar economic problems and taken giant strides forward; without that knowledge it’s hard to visualize the big changes we need to make.
Equality is probably the most potent example of this gap.
Most Americans are deeply aware of the wealth gap—even Republican politicians are starting to talk about it.
Yet even as the wealth gap continues to grow – very few politicians seem to know what to do about it.
Fortunately bits of news are seeping into our country from the northwestern periphery of Europe.
More Americans have now heard that over there, they have free higher education – robust support for families – a healthy work/life balance – active response to climate change and an abundance of high-paying jobs for young and old alike.
Almost no one connects the dots however to realize that these positives represent an egalitarian structure.
Economists call the set of connections ‘the Nordic model’.
(cont..)