Where would you like to live outside of the U.S.? The Nordic countries would be my choice

I was trying to discover which countries had the least corruption in their governments and the best living and economic environments for their peoples. If I had a choice between the United States and other countries to live in, I would choose one of the Nordic countries. The only thing I would not like about them are their long winters. But they have long summer nights, and their lands are beautiful. ---BBB

The Nordic model refers to the economic and social models of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland). This particular adaptation of the mixed market economy is characterised by "universalist" welfare states (relative to other developed countries), which are aimed specifically at enhancing individual autonomy, ensuring the universal provision of basic human rights and stabilising the economy. It is distinguished from other welfare states with similar goals by its emphasis on maximising labour force participation, promoting gender equality, egalitarian and extensive benefit levels, large magnitude of redistribution, and liberal use of expansionary fiscal policy. The Nordic Model however is not a single model with specific components or rules; each of the Nordic countries has its own economic and social models, sometimes with large differences from its neighbours.

Economic publications, such as "The Nordic Model - Embracing globalization and sharing risks", characterize the system as follows:

An elaborate social safety net in addition to public services such as free education and universal healthcare.

Strong property rights, contract enforcement, and overall ease of doing business.

Public pension schemes.

Low barriers to free trade. This is combined with collective risk sharing (social programmes, labour market institutions) which has provided a form of protection against the risks associated with economic openness.

Little product market regulation. Nordic countries rank very high in product market freedom according to OECD rankings.

Low levels of corruption. In Transparency International's 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index the most corrupt of the five Nordic countries were ranked 11th least corrupt of 178 evaluated countries.

High degrees of labour union membership. In 2008, labour union density was 67.5% in Finland, 67.6% in Denmark, and 68.3% in Sweden. In comparison, union membership was 11.9% in the United States and 7.7% in France.

Sweden has decentralised wage co-ordination, while Finland is ranked the least flexible. The changing economic conditions have given rise to fear among workers as well as resistance by trade unions in regards to reforms.

At the same time, reforms and favourable economic development seem to have reduced unemployment, which has traditionally been higher.

Denmark's Social Democrats managed to push through reforms in 1994 and 1996.

Sweden at 56.6% of GDP, Denmark at 51.7%, and Finland at 48.6% reflects very high public spending. One key reason for public spending is the very large number of public employees. These employees work in various fields including education, healthcare, and for the government itself. They often have lifelong job security and make up around a third of the workforce (more than 38% in Denmark). The public sector's low productivity growth has been compensated by an increase in the private sector’s share of government financed services which has included outsourcing. Public spending in social transfers such as unemployment benefits and early-retired programmes is high. In 2001, the wage-based unemployment benefits were around 90% of wage in Denmark and 80% in Sweden, compared to 75% in Holland and 60% in Germany. The unemployed were also able to receive benefits several years before reductions, compared to quick benefit reduction in other countries.

Public expenditure for health and education is significantly higher in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in comparison to the OECD average.

Overall tax burden are among the world's highest; 51.1% of GDP in Sweden, and 43.3% in Finland, compared to 34.7% in Germany, 33.5% in Canada, and 30.5% in Ireland.