Why We Can’t Be Like Finland, the Country with the Highest Happiness Index

Finland reportedly ranked first in the World Happiness Report for two consecutive years, in 2018 and 2019. Denmark, which ranked first in 2013 and 2016, reportedly came in second in 2019. Sweden is also considered a happy country. One reason people in Northern Europe have such high happiness levels is that they prioritize a “good balance of life” rather than chasing money. This seems to align with the concept of a 52-hour workweek for a balanced life, which I’ve also seen discussed in Korean newspapers.

The CNBC report below explains what happiness is and how the happiness index is measured. It is “satisfaction” with one’s life. For example, in Finland, women give birth in hospital family rooms that resemble hotels, receive a free “baby box” from the government containing 63 items for the first year, and are granted 10 months of paid leave starting one month before delivery. They can also work from home for up to three years. Another example is that if someone wants to change careers, they can quit their job and receive $2,000 from the government while deciding on a new career path. If you go back to school to pursue a new career, you receive free education and $1,000 in living expenses from the government. The government actively supports you on your career journey to achieve life satisfaction. Furthermore, Finland provides five weeks of paid vacation per year: four weeks in the summer and one week in the winter.

In exchange for receiving these basic needs and social services from the government, citizens pay high taxes. Income tax is naturally high, but taxes on general consumption (sales tax) are also extremely high: 21% in Finland, 20.7% in Denmark, and 6.2% in the United States. If you buy a 10,000-won lunch box, 2,000 won of that is tax. It is these taxes that make free education and free healthcare possible. People in Northern Europe are willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for a life free from worries about basic livelihood or the daily struggle to make ends meet. Therefore, there is a social consensus that they pay high taxes in order to receive livelihood protection and social services from the state.

This social consensus is possible because citizens believe that money beyond a certain level does not bring happiness. (Personally, I find paying high taxes difficult. I lived in Canada—which has a system similar to Northern Europe’s—for over a year, and my hands would shake every time I bought something because of the high taxes… In Vancouver, for example, federal and provincial taxes combined amount to 12%, meaning a 10,000-won loaf of bread comes with 1,200 won in taxes.) Furthermore, this social consensus is possible because citizens trust the government and believe it protects them.

Therefore, in my view, the reason Nordic countries can maintain a socialist system is that they have “social consensus” and a trustworthy, “non-corrupt government.” In the United States, even within the Democratic Party, there is significant opposition from the progressive wing to adopting the Nordic system. Conservative Republicans, of course, denounce it as “socialist.” In a country where such a consensus is lacking, it is difficult to adopt the Nordic system. It would be equally difficult to implement in South Korea. Is it possible to reach a social consensus here, where citizens—believing that money beyond a certain level does not bring happiness, and trusting that the state will protect them and help them in times of need—would willingly entrust a large portion of their earnings to the state in the form of taxes? Ultimately, I wish we’d stop the meaningless talk of simply envying Finland’s happiness index and its beautiful welfare system. Furthermore, countries like Argentina and Greece, which spent lavishly without the prerequisite of taxation, are not socialist states.

The report below also mentions suicide rates, and sure enough, our country is listed as having a high suicide rate.... Furthermore, this documentary suggests that happiness stems from comparing ourselves to others. It explains that the reason Denmark’s suicide rate is rising is that people feel even more desperate when they perceive themselves as unhappy amidst a population of happy people....

In my opinion, to be truly happy, we must stop comparing ourselves to others. So I don’t think it matters which society I live in; rather, I believe I just need to be satisfied with myself and feel happy. Since happiness is a subjective feeling, I think the path to happiness lies in turning our gaze away from others and back toward ourselves, seeking a life that makes us happy. It would be truly wonderful to live in a country like Finland or Denmark, where you don’t have to worry about making a living and can pursue the studies or work you want, but even within those societies, people feel unhappy, and some even commit suicide.

In any case, there’s no doubt that the people of Northern Europe trust their governments, and these are countries where a social consensus has been reached to prioritize happiness over money.

01/03/2021 by Dr. Lan Joo