George Lakey, author of Viking Economics - Interviewed by Alan Kohler - The Constant Investor

Published: March 22, 2017
Where can you find more entrepreneurs per capita than the US; online access to anyone’s tax return, including the Prime Minister; no poverty; and free schooling at all levels?
The Viking economies: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland have a blend of capitalism and socialism which appears to make them idyllic places for business and life. Norway just topped the UN’s list of happiest countries, but is it all fresh-faced bliss?
George Lakey, author of Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians Got It Right-and How We Can, Too analyses the economies and the history of the Nordic countries.
George tells Alan what these countries have got right and wrong through their histories, the benefits of living with high taxes and was Trump accurate with his ‘accusations’ about immigration troubles in Sweden.
Listen to the full podcast here:
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Transcript:
George: In Norway there’s also a wealth tax on top of income tax.
Alan Kohler: An important and really interesting book was published last year called Viking Economics - How the Scandinavians got it right & how we can too.
George: Well if you’re wondering what your neighbour is maybe getting away with you can just go online and read their tax return.
Alan Kohler: I’ve always heard about how different the Nordic economies are, some saying they verge on socialism, others saying they’ve found the secret to happiness and equality. I tracked down the author George Lakey in Pennsylvania for this week’s Spotlight.
George: And as an American, as a US person, I was actually startled that they generate more entrepreneurs per capita than we do.
Alan Kohler: The Spotlight on theconstantinvestor.com every Wednesday.