Question 1:
Compare the flourishing of people living in countries with governments most like Norway to those with governments most like the US. Use the most important and relevant indicators and report your results in order of the importance of these indicators.
ANSWER 1:
To compare the flourishing of people in countries with governments most like Norway (i.e. social democratic, high state welfare, egalitarian) versus those most like the United States (i.e. liberal capitalist, low welfare state, individualist), we’ll use widely recognized indicators of human flourishing, ordered by their relevance based on major academic frameworks (e.g. OECD Better Life Index, Human Development Reports, World Happiness Report):
1. Life Satisfaction / Happiness
Source: World Happiness Report 2024
Norway-type countries (e.g. Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands): Top 10 globally
US-type countries (e.g. U.S., UK, Australia): Lower (U.S. ranked ~23rd in 2024)
Conclusion: Social democratic countries consistently outperform liberal capitalist ones in life satisfaction.
2. Health Outcomes
Source: WHO, OECD
Life Expectancy: Norway-type ~82–84 years | US-type ~76–79 years
Infant Mortality: Lower in Norway-type by more than 50%
Conclusion: Universal healthcare and public health investments improve well-being in Norway-type systems.
3. Income Equality / Social Mobility
Source: Gini Index, OECD
Norway-type countries: Low Gini coefficients (0.25–0.30), high mobility
US-type countries: High inequality (Gini ~0.41), low mobility (harder to rise from poverty)
Conclusion: Equality and mobility correlate with long-term flourishing and social cohesion.
4. Mental Health
Source: Lancet, WHO
US-type countries report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide
Norway-type countries have stronger mental health supports and lower suicide rates (with exceptions like Finland)
Conclusion: Mental health outcomes are better where universal services exist.
5. Education Quality and Access
Source: PISA, UNESCO
Norway-type countries: Free or heavily subsidized education, higher test scores
US-type countries: High student debt, more inequality in educational outcomes
Conclusion: Education systems in social democracies promote equity and long-term well-being.
6. Work-Life Balance
Source: OECD Better Life Index
Norway-type countries: Shorter workweeks, stronger labor protections, generous parental leave
US-type countries: Longer hours, no mandated parental leave
Conclusion: Better balance in Norway-type systems improves health and family life.
7. Trust in Government and Institutions
Source: Edelman Trust Barometer, OECD
Norway-type countries: High trust in institutions
US-type countries: Low and declining trust, high political polarization
Conclusion: Trust enhances stability and individual confidence in society.
Overall Conclusion:
People in countries with governments like Norway flourish more than those in US-style systems across nearly all key indicators, especially in life satisfaction, health, equality, and mental well-being. These outcomes are largely attributed to stronger social safety nets, universal healthcare and education, and egalitarian policies.
Question 2:
Where do Canada and the England stand in relation to Norway and the US on these factors?
ANSWER 2:
Canada and England (as part of the UK) sit between Norway and the US, but each leans in different directions depending on the indicator. Here’s a breakdown of how Canada and England compare on the same flourishing factors:
1. Life Satisfaction / Happiness
Ranking (World Happiness Report 2024):
Norway: 7th
Canada: 15th
UK (England): 20th
US: 23rd
Interpretation: Both Canada and the UK outperform the US, but lag behind Norway.
2. Health Outcomes
Life Expectancy:
Norway: ~83
Canada: ~82
UK: ~81
US: ~76
Infant Mortality: Lower in Canada and UK than the US, higher than Norway
Interpretation: Canada and the UK have stronger public healthcare systems than the US, but not as well-funded or efficient as Norway’s.
3. Income Equality / Social Mobility
Gini Index:
Norway: ~0.27
Canada: ~0.31
UK: ~0.35
US: ~0.41
Interpretation: Canada is closer to Norway; the UK shows more inequality, especially post-Thatcher.
4. Mental Health
Prevalence of Depression/Anxiety:
Highest in US, followed by UK, Canada, and then Norway
Access to Care: Better in UK and Canada than US, but often under strain
Interpretation: Canada and UK rank in the middle, with relatively good access but rising mental health challenges.
5. Education Quality and Access
Norway: Free post-secondary, strong public system
Canada: High-performing K-12, costly higher ed (less than US)
UK: Good K-12, high student debt post-2012 tuition increases
US: High inequality, expensive tertiary education
Interpretation: Canada aligns more with Norway on access; UK closer to US on university costs.
6. Work-Life Balance
Norway: 35-hour workweek norm, generous leave
Canada: Moderate balance, but weaker leave policies
UK: Similar to Canada; some EU-inspired labor protections remain
US: Poor protections, long hours
Interpretation: Canada and UK have middling work-life balance—better than US, worse than Norway.
7. Trust in Government
Norway: Very high
Canada: Moderate, declining in recent years
UK: Low, especially post-Brexit
US: Very low
Interpretation: Canada remains more trusting than UK and US but not near Norway’s cohesion.
Overall Ranking (Relative to Flourishing)
Norway
Canada
UK (England)
United States
Canada generally leans toward the Nordic model (universal healthcare, some redistributive policies), while the UK has elements of both but has moved closer to the US in terms of inequality and austerity since the 1980s.
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