Why do the Nordic people pay their high taxes happily?

Copenhagen. Candles are lit. Dinner is served. At 6 pm sharp. Everyone -including any guests- must be sitting around the table at 6 pm. Sharp. Eating food together is sacred in Denmark. No one is allowed to spoil the hygge feeling. Although the Nordic people invite only family and friends to dinner (not people they do not know well), this sense of exclusivity might denote the high value they place on eating together with their beloved ones. But is this togetherness just about food or does it reflect broader social beliefs?

Together, forever!
The Danes feel that eating together is part of their togetherness. But there is so much more in it. It is about doing things together with other people and this is why volunteering is so popular in Denmark (and elsewhere in the Nordics). It is also about feeling part of a net. Call it a safety net or else, this is a very strong sense that can hold people and societies together. For them, it is essential to know they can trust their friends and can rely on their support, in case of need. According to research,  approximately 96% of the Danes believe they can turn to their friends in case of need. Amazing, huh?

They also feel they belong to a community that extends beyond their family and friends. If everybody they know or care about can be taken care of in good or bad times, then it is perfectly OK to give almost half of their income to the state, as taxes. And they do it happily. Research shows that almost 9 out of 10 Danes pay their 45%-52% tax rate happily. They see it as an investment in society and the well-being of all its members. Community rules!

The sense of togetherness is so ingrained in their culture that even the Danish word for community “fælleskab” reflects it. It is a compound word and the two parts mean something like common or shared + cabinet or create. So, a community for them is something they create and share together. Awesome! They even have “fællesgrav“, that is a shared grave where several people can be buried together. And then it is this “bofælleskab” thing, that many Danes look back on. This is a co-housing scheme, like a small community of private homes clustered around shared space. Although each home has its own kitchen, there are also shared amenities like a large communal kitchen and dining area. Guess what for! To cook and eat together.