The Denmark secret: how it became the world’s most trusting country – and why that matters
There are real benefits to a society where people feel safe enough to leave their babies and bikes on the street. How have the Danes achieved this level of faith in their fellow citizens?
Over the years, Denmark has emerged as the good faith capital of the world. Nearly 74% of Danes believe “most people can be trusted” – more than any other nationality. On wider metrics, such as social trust (trusting a stranger) and civic trust (trusting authority), Denmark also scores highest in the world, with the other Nordic countries close behind.
The political scientist Gert Tinggaard Svendsen argues that trust accounts for 25% of Denmark’s otherwise inexplicable wealth. By his reckoning, a quarter of that wealth comes from physical capital (means of production and infrastructure), half comes from human capital (the population’s level of education and innovation), and the unexplained final quarter is trust: they don’t sue one another, they don’t waste money on burglar alarms, businesses often make binding verbal agreements without sweating the contract. People who hold power in Danish institutions – the government, police, judiciary, health services – are trusted to be acting in society’s best interests, and there is very little corruption.
Continue reading...Date: |
Filter
-
How an Artist Became the Queen of Baltimore
Joyce J. Scott’s 50-year retrospective at the Baltimore Museum of Art draws inspiration, beauty and humor from her hometown and its people.The New York Times - Top stories - United Kingdom -
Why democratic societies are having trust issues
We have faith in those closest to us while politicians seem increasingly distantFinancial Times - World -
No Matter How You Package It, Apple Intelligence Is AI
Apple is eager to show us that its approach to artificial intelligence is safer, better, and more useful than the competition. Maybe that's just a hallucination, but it's working.Wired - Tech - Apple -
‘Whispering in his ear’: how Holly Valance became a cheerleader for the radical right
Former pop star is credited with encouraging Nigel Farage to stand for MP and has helped raised millions for Trump. As Nigel Farage swaggered into a Chelsea townhouse on Wednesday night for the biggest Donald Trump fundraiser this side of the ...The Guardian - World -
Here are the most and least affordable major cities in the world
Four major cities in California were included in a Chapman University study of housing affordability around the world.CBS News - Top stories -
How Ralf Rangnick earned Austria’s respect and got a country dreaming
German has won over fans and brought fresh air to an association that struggled with entrenched structures. When the Austrian Football Association’s sporting director, Peter Schöttel, mustered the courage to make perhaps the most important call of ...The Guardian - World -
‘People get wealthy in many different ways.’ Money you keep matters more than how much you make.
Save diligently and spend prudently — unless of course money is no object.MarketWatch - Business -
Nvidia could pass Apple, Microsoft to become world’s most valuable company and first $4 trillion stock
CEO Jensen Huang is several moves ahead of Nvidia’s rivals, money manager Louis Navellier says.MarketWatch - Business - Microsoft -
More than mere camembert: why France leads the world in cheesemaking
The opening of France’s first cheese museum in Paris complements the city’s high concentration of top fromageries. • Homage to fromage: cheese museum opens in Paris. France is not the only player when it comes to fromage. Outstanding cheeses are ...The Guardian - World -
How Elon Musk's $44.9B Tesla pay package compares with the most generous plans for other U.S. CEOs
Even though the median U.S. CEO pay package last year was nearly 200 times more than a worker in the middle of their company pay scales, Elon Musk’s record-setting Tesla compensation dwarfs them by comparisonABC News - Tech
More from The Guardian
-
Swedish EU diplomat Johan Floderus freed from Iranian jail in prisoner swap
Iranian-Swedish citizen Saeed Azizi also exchanged for Hamid Noury, who was serving life in Sweden for role in death of political prisoners. Johan Floderus, the Swedish EU diplomat held in captivity for two years in Iran, has been freed and is on ...The Guardian - World - European Union -
Italy bounce back from first-minute shock as Barella strike sinks Albania
Italy’s title defence is alive and well for now. Expectations around Luciano Spalletti’s new-look side have been low but this win over the tournament’s rank outsiders, achieved despite a monumental scare inside the opening minute, was ultimately ...The Guardian - World -
Biden goes on offense over age issue, wishing Trump a happy 78th birthday
Dogged by age issue, president, 81, is now highlighting Trump’s many peculiarities, from hair style to Bible sales. Taking a line out of Donald Trump’s playbook, Joe Biden offered his rival a tongue-in-cheek birthday greeting on X on Friday, ...The Guardian - World - Joe Biden -
Tories and Labour on course for lowest share of the vote since 1945
Poll reveals historically low support for the big two, with smaller parties up by five points. Labour and the Tories are on course for their lowest combined vote share since the second world war, as the latest Opinium poll for the Observer shows a ...The Guardian - World -
ICC must be allowed to carry out work ‘without intimidation’, say 93 member states
Joint statement of support for international criminal court issued following revelations of Israeli interference. The international criminal court must be allowed to carry out its work “without intimidation”, a group of 93 states has said in a ...The Guardian - World