Karl-Martin Hentschel on the secret of the Scandinavian model's success

German Green politician Karl-Martin Hentschel enthuses about the Scandinavian model, which combines economic growth and a welfare state in spite of high taxes. "The secret of Scandinavia's success is the State's closeness to its citizens. The municipal communes are the State. For example they collect most of the tax revenues... Therefore, in Sweden almost 50 percent of public spending is administered by the communes. In Denmark it's around 66 percent. The average citizen only comes in contact with the federal state when he has dealings with the army, the police force or the judiciary, which are the traditional institutes of the authoritarian state. Given the important role of the communes it's no wonder citizens are willing to pay higher taxes. They see where the money's spent."

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