Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I've heard this a few times before. Admittedly I'm not that familiar with Denmark. Lets check out the livability.

GDP is okish; has signs of foreign influence or some sort of financial crisis.

2.5% unemployment is fantastic. 75% participation and steadily climbing, elderly going back to work?

https://www.populationpyramid.net/denmark/2020/

Wow, only 5 million people? Toronto has more people. Though yes elderly going back to work.

Central bank is very healthy.

Interest rates went negative a little bit. Seemingly 0% typically? Hence the elderly going back to work.

Their government didnt print a bunch of money?

~250% private debt to gdp is high, housing crisis?

excellent balance of trade.

!!! government debt to gdp is below 30% holy smokes!

Big boost to military spending

Household debts to gdp below 100%, but not by much. That's ok.

60% housing ownership isnt great. Housing bubble crashing most likely with high private debt to gdp, high rates. Likely priced their own people out of the market; forcing the bubble to crash.

55% personal income tax rate? Yikes! 25% sales tax, 22% corporate tax. Those are some insane taxes.



Most of Europe has similar taxation. They get a lot for their money though. Public transport and health. I would live in Denmark in a heartbeat, have visited so many times as a digital nomad.

But I'd have to go work for a tech company there or convince them that whatever startup I want to have a go at next is enough to be accepted by the startup visa (complicated).

If anyone from Denmark or Sweden (which I love as well) reads this and wants someone with 20+ YOE in tech (programming, startups) do get in contact, my details are on my profile.


Note: I've left it too late to edit the above, but I probably shouldn't have suggested contacting me. I would LOVE to live in Denmark or Sweden, but it probably wouldn't be possible this year (due to commitments I've made to customers).


> Most of Europe has similar taxation.

Countries like Czechia or France have lower income tax (5%-10% less)


France's top rate is 0.5% points lower.

Denmark is average for the EU (much less than France) once you account for the employee taxes in France.


> 55% personal income tax rate?

That's not really correct. It is more like 36%. And also it is more complicated than that, as the more you earn the higher it gets, but it's roughly around 36%. The 55% is for example for secondary incomes, etc. what we call a B-kord


Yes, 55% is the top of the tax progression.

People on B-kort still get their deductions (Just paid back after the fiscal year is done).

You pay the 55% on:

1. salary earned on the top of the progressions hierarchy

2. When you work anonymously (Ie. you need a CPR number to get you deductions)

At a salary of ~150k USD (DKK 1m) you would pay 40% in tax - not too far away from NY or SF.


My sister is in SF, and even though she nominally makes a little more than I do, I end up having much more disposable income, and can afford a lot more things, which is ... weird feeling


> 55% personal income tax rate? Yikes! 25% sales tax, 22% corporate tax. Those are some insane taxes.

Yes, insane. It's the kind of stat that you should question while reading, and before writing.


People like to mention the lower income taxes for higher income brackets in the USA but in some places there you pay a lot of property tax. If you make a nice salary you probably have a nice house, and in some places you'll pay a lot of property tax, especially if you live in a location that is popular like Miami. https://www.tax-rates.org/florida/miami-dade_county_property...

https://www.tax-rates.org/taxtables/property-tax-by-state


> 55% personal income tax rate? Yikes! 25% sales tax, 22% corporate tax. Those are some insane taxes.

They do have a tax reduction scheme, but you need an obscene salary for DK standards: https://www.bdo.dk/en-gb/insights/tax-and-vat/27-percent-tax...


You mention the elderly a couple of times:

1. Pension ag is currently 69 with a renegotiation to raise it to 73 coming up. 2. Schemes has been installed to allow retired people to keep their public pensions while working.

In essence: Nobody are being forced into the labor market, but a lot of pensioners are choosing to + retirement age is increasing.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: