Oil helps, of course. But ultimately, the Nordic success story isn’t about lucrative natural resources — Sweden, Finland and Denmark can’t rely on fossil fuel reserves — but lucrative human resources: The region combines the world’s highest female employment rates with some of the most impressive fertility rates in developed countries — one reason why it has weathered the crisis with solid public finances and respectable growth (Iceland being the notable exception).
“One Norwegian lesson,” Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said from his modestly sized office one afternoon, “is that if you can raise female participation, it helps the economy, birth rates and the budget.”
For the whole article, go to New York Times
Oil helps, of course. But ultimately, the Nordic success story isn’t about lucrative natural resources — Sweden, Finland and Denmark can’t rely on fossil fuel reserves — but lucrative human resources: The region combines the world’s highest female employment rates with some of the most impressive fertility rates in developed countries — one reason why it has weathered the crisis with solid public finances and respectable growth (Iceland being the notable exception).
“One Norwegian lesson,” Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said from his modestly sized office one afternoon, “is that if you can raise female participation, it helps the economy, birth rates and the budget.”
For the whole article, go to New York Times