Kapitalisme Index 2005 (USA slechts op #13)

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With a population of over 5 million, the Kingdom of Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula and over 400 islands. Trade is historically important, and two-thirds of Danish trade occurs within the European Union. Like most of its European counterparts, Denmark has a large welfare state, which includes free public education, life-long health care coverage, and subsidized care for children and the elderly. The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that reform of the costly welfare system is expected, although not until after the next election. The next general election is in 2005. According to the EIU, the Danish government made a “surprise move to bring forward to June 2004 all of its multi-year tax reform, originally scheduled for gradual implementation until 2007….” The government is financing the tax cuts by suspending payments into the supplementary pension scheme and hopes that lower taxes will boost private consumption and, therefore, employment. Other reforms are taking place as well, including liberalization of the natural gas and electricity markets. Denmark’s fiscal burden of government score is 0.4 point better this year. As a result, its overall score is 0.04 point better this year.

Trade Policy

* Score:2.0

As a member of the European Union, Denmark’s trade policy is the same as the trade policies of other EU members. The World Bank reports that the EU’s common external weighted average tariff rate in 2002 was 2.4 percent. As part of the EU, Denmark applies quantitative restrictions to certain imports. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, “The marking and labeling requirements for products sold in Denmark are numerous and vary from product to product.”

Fiscal Burden

* Score:3.6

The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that Denmark’s top income tax rate is 26.5 percent, down from the 59 percent reported in the 2004 Index. The top corporate tax rate is 30 percent. In 2003, government expenditures as a share of GDP increased 1.1 percentage points to 56.6 percent, compared to remaining unchanged in 2002. On net, Denmark’s fiscal burden of government score is 0.4 point better this year.

Government Intervention

* Score:3.0

Based on data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the government consumed 26.7 percent of GDP in 2003. In 2002, based on Statistics Denmark data, Denmark received 9.12 percent of its revenues from state-owned enterprises and government ownership of property.

Monetary Policy

* Score:1.0

From 1994 to 2003, Denmark’s weighted average annual rate of inflation was 2.22 percent.

Foreign Investment

* Score:2.0

Foreign investors, including those from outside the European Union, are subject to the same laws as domestic investors. The International Monetary Fund reports that non-residents may not purchase real estate unless the person formerly resided in Denmark for at least five years, is an EU national working in Denmark, or is a non-EU national with a valid residence or business permit. There are no restrictions on capital transfers. In general, there are few restrictions on investment and no screening process. Notable exceptions are limitations on foreign ownership in national security sectors such as hydrocarbon exploration, arms production, aircraft, and ships registered in the Danish International Ships Register. Denmark’s liberal investment regime has attracted increasingly high levels of foreign investment in the past several years. The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that at least 2,500 companies are either wholly or partially owned by foreign interests.

Banking and Finance

* Score:1.0

Denmark’s banking system is open to foreign competition and largely independent of government. The same rules apply to commercial and savings banks, and banks may provide services in a wide variety of areas, including mortgage financing, stock trading, leasing, factoring, investment, real estate, and insurance. There are 650 financial institutions, including 169 banks, with the largest bank (Danske Bank) accounting for a 52.4 percent market share. The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that “non-performing loans among the large Nordic players are the lowest in Europe, with Danske Bank leading the way in terms of asset quality.”

Wages and Prices

* Score:2.0

The market sets wages and most prices. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, “The government retains the power to intervene with price controls in an emergency—such as during a period of accelerating inflation…. Otherwise, none apply.” The government affects agricultural prices through Denmark’s participation in the Common Agricultural Policy, a program that heavily subsidizes agricultural goods. There is no mandated minimum wage, but various negotiated labor agreements effectively set a minimum wage for their respective economic sectors.

Property Rights

* Score:1.0

The judiciary is independent and, in general, both fair and efficient. The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that “the country provides a high level of professionalism in the judiciary and civil service. Given the slow pace of Denmark’s legal system, however, out-of-court settlements are common.”

Regulation

* Score:1.0

Establishing a business is a simple process. Regulations are applied evenly and efficiently in most cases, and the government takes a laissez-faire approach to the free market. According to the International Institute for Management Development, Denmark has one of the most flexible labor laws in Europe (including Ireland), surpassed only by the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that “Denmark applies high standards with regard to environment, health and safety, and labor. Bureaucratic procedures appear streamlined and transparent, and corruption is generally unknown.” Corruption in the bureaucracy is almost nonexistent.

Informal Market

* Score:1.0

Transparency International’s 2003 score for Denmark is 9.5. Therefore, Denmark’s informal market score is 1 this year.

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Op donderdag 6 januari 2005 13:03 schreef Basp1 het volgende:
Toch grappig om te zien dat de meeste landen hoewel ze hoog in de score lijst staan vaak allemaal een hoge score hebben voor hun fiscal burden.

De grote vraag is dus nu of de fiscal burden echt wel zoveel invloed op je economische vrijheid zal hebben als deze kapitalistische propaganda organisatrie ons wilt laten geloven.

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The fiscal burden of government, which encompasses income tax rates, corporate tax rates, and trends in government expenditures as a percent of output;

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Op donderdag 6 januari 2005 13:46 schreef du_ke het volgende:

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Je loopt de hele tijd te roepen dat landen als Nederland, Frankrijk, de Scandinavische landen canada etc behoorlijk socialistisch zijn. Toch scoren ze heel behoorlijk. Het gebied van 1,8 tot 2,5 zit vol met Europese landen met een behoorlijk hoog inkomen.

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ofwel aan de hand hiervan komen we alweer tot de conclusie dat een combinatie van vrije markt en overheidsinvloeden (zoals in west Europa gebruikelijk) prima werkt .

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Kan je overigens ook voor een lijstje zorgen waarbij in plaats van op ligging een indeling wordt gemaakt op voormalige kolonieën/ kolonisatoren?

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Op donderdag 6 januari 2005 14:09 schreef freako het volgende:

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Of de Amerikanen kolonies hadden? In ieder geval de Filippijnen.

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Op donderdag 6 januari 2005 14:12 schreef du_ke het volgende:

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Wat dan weer landen zijn waar economische vrijheid belangrijker lijkt dan persoonlijke vrijheid. Dat is een keuze en die keuze zal hier in het westen gelukkig eerder uitvallen richting persoonlijke vrijheid .

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Op donderdag 6 januari 2005 14:17 schreef du_ke het volgende:
Tja persoonlijk vind ik een vrije samenleving, je weet wel vrijheid van meningsuiting enzo, toch wel wat belangrijker dan een procentje extra economische groei .