Why are the Danish So Happy? Part 2: Equality

I never realize how much I value being healthy until I’m sick. My glasses weren’t in the forefront of my mind until I broke them and needed to live in a constant state of blur. Water tastes plain and boring when I’m not thirsty, but when I’m extremely dehydrated, there’s nothing I want more.

When I have everything I need, it’s difficult to notice it. It seems as though it isn’t until I’m lacking something that I realize how much I desperately want it.

When I see that someone has something that I do not, I start to crave it too. It makes me realize that I am missing out.

And if we live in a society with massive amounts of inequality, then everyday becomes a reminder of who has and who does not. People become unhappy when they think they’re not getting enough.

Perhaps one reason why Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world is because it is an extremely equal country. Their Gini Coefficient, which measures the amount of inequality in a country, is one of the lowest in the world (Interestingly enough, South Africa has the highest amount of inequality in the world, so I have felt a massive difference in terms of this over the past few weeks).

The difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is practically non-existent. In fact, it’s a cultual faux pas to attempt to show off what you do have. If you see someone driving down the road in a Lamborghini, people will roll their eyes and look with scorn.

There is a social code of conduct called the Law of Jante that is followed in many Nordic countries that explains this phenomenon a bit deeper:

The 10 rules of Jante Law

You’re not to think you are anything special.

You’re not to think you are as good as we are.

You’re not to think you are smarter than we are.

You’re not to convince yourself that you are better than we are.

You’re not to think you know more than we do.

You’re not to think you are more important than we are.

You’re not to think you are good at anything.

You’re not to laugh at us.

You’re not to think anyone cares about you.

You’re not to think you can teach us anything.

Basically, everyone is average. Nobody is extraordinary. There are no “haves” and “have-nots.” People just exist on the same level. People expect to live ordinary lives and are content with it.

I wonder, though, if there is a downside to this cultural expectation. Does it interfere with innovation to any degree? If there is no social ladder to climb (which is so apparent in other countries with more inequality), what do the Danes do instead? Does this social construct prevent people from expressing their own sense of individuality for the sake of conforming to average?