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Norway

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Value System
Reading these articles has introduced me to the Norwegian culture, its values and its egalitarian social democracy. Residents of Norway are predominantly ethnic Norwegians who believe that it is their obligation to share their wealth with those who are less fortunate. Spouses are regarded as equals and it is important that the citizens maintain a good healthy balance between their work life and family life. Being wealthy is frowned upon by the general population of Norway, having an excess of money and material items are ranked very low on their list of values. There are no homeless or hungry residents, education, day care and government services are offered to all, and their financial security is guaranteed. Norway has evolved from a fishing and farming community to a mostly white collar high-tech, state-owned oil export industry with very little manufacturing thereby preserving their pristine environment.

Norms
Norway is a very small country but it spends 1% of its GDP each year to fight global poverty donating millions more in foreign aid than the U.N. Oslo often serves as a mediator to foreign conflicts between North and South Korea and in the Middle East peace process, gaining clout and global respectability.

It is my opinion that the United States has a much different agenda for the foreign aid that we offer as compared to Norway. It appears to me that our current government may be viewed not only as the most powerful, but also as the “Bully”. I am not sure that this current norm is gaining us the same type of global respect that Norway has earned.

To maintain a good balance between work and family time, employees work flexible hours having a usual 38 hour work week. Employees are encouraged to be home by 5 pm and are given liberal sick leave and vacation time. The women of Norway do not have to make the difficult choice

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