Small Is Beautiful: Denmark and Its 'Worth Following' Story in a Global World

Radomir Bohac

《Tamkang Journal of International Affairs》 20卷2期 (2016/10) Pp. 121-167

https://doi.org/10.6185/TJIA.V.20.N2.P121P168

並列摘要

This paper seeks to identify how the economic systems of small states could assert their interests in the global world. It focuses on the basic conditions that enabled Denmark to build and foster a specific road towards industrialisation development and assert itself in intense global competition. The unique Danish model (often overshadowed by Sweden) is based on a strong social state, equality and the Nordic attitude. From the author's point of view, Denmark and the other Nordic countries are creating a specific, successful economic model that has retained its advantages even during crises and increasing globalisation. The Danish example is inspiring also from the perspective of the challenges which the economic systems of small and medium-sized countries face in times of super-integration and the fourth industrial revolution. The special and successful Danish (Nordic) model brings about a challenge to investigate thoroughly the causes of the Danish success. An analysis of the formation methods for the Danish operation mechanism of economic development could possibly exhibit many methods applicable in comparable countries. The Danish way today is widely regarded as an example of how to implement a rapid transition from an agrarian to an industrialised and knowledge-based economy. This paper attempts to outline the attractiveness, specificity, challenges and risks of the Danish model of a social welfare state. Denmark and the other Nordic countries constitute a certain counter-balance to the dominating US model and, to some degree, the EU model, both of which create large social inequalities and other problems. From the author's point of view, the Danish story is relevant for research also in relation to certain processes of excellence employed in Denmark and the plausibility of their application in comparable countries such as, for example, Austria, Ireland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia. Especially from this perspective, we may consider Denmark a large economic and political laboratory.

並列關鍵字

Global challenges ； small countries ； Denmark ； innovation ； economy

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