That's especially true if you believe the Austrian methodological point about not including government spending in GDP calculations (or even subtracting it, as some have argued for).

Undisciplined

I forgot to expand on #3, the poverty point:

 how much of your "income" disappears in taxation (obvious and hidden). Meaning the take-home wage, what you're used to having in your bank account and as walking around/spending money 

 for most people in the Nordics than most Americans.

Politics_And_Law

HealthAndFitness

econ

Americans Mistakenly Idolizing the Nordics (NYT, Nicholas Kristof)

denlillaapan

I forgot to expand on #3, the poverty point: 

GDP/capita metrics _obscures_ how much of your "income" disappears in taxation (obvious and hidden). Meaning the take-home wage, what you're used to having in your bank account and as walking around/spending money **is waaaaay less** for most people in the Nordics than most Americans. 

## Embrace Poverty