Two great pieces recently came out about the applicability of the Nordic model to the US.
American expat Ann Jones living in Oslo thinks the world of the Nordic model and finds it hard to explain what is wrong with America but is sure there is a lot wrong.
British author Michael Booth has a different view. He is married to a Danish woman and has lived in Denmark off and on for a decade. His recent book "The Almost Nearly Perfect People: the truth about the Nordic miracle" points out that while the Nordic countries have achieved high ranks on many international indicators of quality of life, they have their share of problems as well. His Washington Post article below mentions that Nordic countries are world leaders in coffee drinking, anti-depressant use, and violent crime.
Either way, reading both is a good primer on a region which often escapes the international eye.
The American way over the Nordic model: are we crazy?by Ann Jones
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0111-jones-ex-pat-american-20150111-story.html
Stop the Scandimania: Nordic nations aren't the utopias they're made out to be
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stop-the-scandimania-nordic-nations-arent-the-utopias-theyre-made-out-to-be/2015/01/16/8f818408-9aa0-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html
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