"We venture to the very heart of the hell that is Scandinavian socialism—and find out that it’s not so bad. Pricey, yes, but a good place to start and run a company. What exactly does that suggest about the link between taxes and entrepreneurship?" So reads the introduction to Chafkin's article.
He profiles Norwegian Wiggo Dalmo, an entrepreneur who has succeeded in Norway despite the country's extremely high (by U.S. standards) taxes.
"What if we have been wrong about taxes? What if tax cuts are nothing like weapons or textbooks? What if they don't matter as much as we think they do?" asks Chafkin.
Wondering what would happen if the U.S. were to go to a European, socialist economic system, as some doomsayers predict, Chafkin ventured to Norway to see how the Norwegian system works. He learned that Norwegians think of taxes differently from the way Americans do. Instead of seeing taxes as a burden, he says, Norwegians see them as "an exchange of cash for services" and "a lifelong investment."
There is a downside to Norway's high taxes, Chafkin notes. It's an expensive country. But most Norwegians seem to think it's worth the expense. The country routinely places high in worldwide quality-of-life surveys.
Read the full article at: http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110201/in-norway-start-ups-say-ja-to-socialism.html