Today I will introduce you to a very unusual country. Here are the happiest residents in the world, this state is recognized as the least corrupt in the world, there are twice as many bicycles than cars, almost every resident can swim, buses can bend to the right if necessary to facilitate the landing of the disabled, women with strollers and old people. Trying to escape from prison is not considered a crime here. If a fugitive is caught, he will only have to serve his time. The state is among the countries with the smallest income gap between the poorest and wealthiest and is the leading country in terms of employment. The country has practically no buildings with more than six floors in height. Education is free at all stages. The working day for most people here begins at 8 am and ends at 4 pm. There are no severe frosts or heat. Almost all year round, the temperature here ranges from cool to more or less warm. The birth rate, and one of the lowest in the world. From anywhere in the country you can reach the ocean in just 52 km. In 2020, the capital of the state was recognized as the best European city to live in.
This is Denmark.
A miniature kingdom in Northern Europe, which is called the Pearl of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
What are the reasons for the effective functioning of this or that state? Successful fight against corruption? Rapid implementation of initiatives in education and medicine? Different governments use different strategies and tactics. The effectiveness of these approaches is assessed by a variety of international indices and rankings, such as the Rule of Law Index, the World Bank's Governance Quality Index, or the Social Progress Index.
Interviews are conducted annually with residents of different countries, data is compiled, studied, and findings published - in different categories. And although at first glance these indices reflect different spheres of public activity, time after time the same countries occupy the highest places in all ratings.
All Scandinavian countries consistently rank high in the indices we have mentioned, but Denmark differs from its neighbors (and from the rest of the world) in that it has almost ideal indicators in the "Basic human needs" rating of the international Social Progress Index.
These needs include nutrition, health care and easy access to basic communications and knowledge. All these benefits can be enjoyed not only by the citizens of this country. "The health and social services system in Denmark is well developed and accessible to anyone who lives there. For example, as an international student you can get financial assistance, free language courses are available for you".
The Danish social support system relies more on mutual trust than on bureaucratic procedures. "When Danes are sick and unable to attend university classes or come to the office to work, they simply call and report it. In Germany, for example, both the student and the employee must show a doctor's certificate. "Both countries have fairly good governance, but Germans like it when everything is fixed and confirmed on paper to keep order, while Danes just act like friends in almost any situation.
Life in Denmark may seem expensive compared to other European countries, here the highest taxes in the EU, but the result of such taxes are the benefits that citizens enjoy, emphasizes Steinbach. People here are friendly and open. "The Danes live in the "Hügge" style. "Watching a movie with friends in the evening or having dinner together is very Danish, it's very Hügge. The Danes love to talk, to hang out - just to sit together, enjoying the cozy atmosphere with candles, delicious food and interesting conversation.