Nothing is Rotten in Denmark

With due apologies to Hamlet, nothing is rotten in the state of Denmark. A recent survey concluded that Denmark was the happiest country in Europe. As someone who visited Denmark last year, this does not come as a surprise. Here is my take on why the Danes are so frigging happy.

1. Walk into any office in Copenhagen, on a week day at 5 p.m. and, chances are, you won’t find anyone there, except the security guard. Most Danes leave work at 4:30 p.m. Sure, they put in their eight hours or so, but overtime is practically non-existent – and weekends with the family are sacred. Danes seem to have learnt to successfully compartmentalize work as only one facet of their existence. For them, getting ahead in your job does not necessarily require putting your colleagues down. And it seems to work too. Danes enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.

2. Denmark has a 37-hour work week. Parents get 52 weeks of maternity/paternity leave to be shared between them. 24 weeks of this is with full pay; and the rest is usually at 90% pay. Much of the maternity/paternity leave can be spread over the first nine years of the child’s life. Childcare is subsidized, with no parent being asked to pay more than 25% of the cost.

3. The Danes have a lot of faith in their government as an institution. They do not need to fight city hall. Most public officials are competent, uncorrupt and approachable. As a tourist, I can testify to this. You know how some visitors have a tendency to ask the most exasperating questions? I’ve never seen one of those guys scowl or lose their cool.

4. Copenhagen is one of the safest cities in the world. Unescorted ladies can walk home from a bar in the early hours of the morning and not get accosted. Muggings, in fact, are practically unheard of. What amazes many foreigners is the sight of young kids bicycling to school in the suburbs and back, totally unsupervised or escorted by an adult. Needless to say, no one carries a gun – not even the cops.

For sure, there is no such thing as a free lunch; and all this happiness does not come cheap. Denmark has one of the highest rates of taxation in the world. But I would say it’s worth it, wouldn’t you?

By the way, out of the ten countries surveyed, Britain – which shares a ‘special relationship’ with the USA – came in ninth. Maybe the Brits ought to look for a new suitor.