Derry, T. K., 8, 24, 86, 157, 259, 353
Dhillon, H. S., 303
Didion, Joan, 172
diet: Danish, 3, 29, 72–3, 107; Finnish, 284–5; Icelandic, 131–2, 137; Swedish, 384
divorce, 361
Donald Duck, 305–6
Dovne Robert, 74–5
driving laws, 323, 346
drugs, 62, 128, 223, 323
duktig, 302, 361
Dupont, Bent, 92–3
Eckersberg, C. W., 25
education: Denmark, 28, 32, 45, 58–9, 70–1, 73–4; Finland, 5, 70, 221, 274–81; happiness at school, 279–81; Norway, 203; school shootings, 279–80; and social mobility, 389; and social trust levels, 45; Sweden, 279, 295; UK, 278
elderly care, 384–5
Eliasson, Olafur, 6
Elsinore see Helsingør
elves, 148–53
employment laws, 19, 79, 345–6, 352–3
energy: fuel bills, 62; gas industry, 197, 202; Icelandic energy industry, 159–60; oil industry, 5, 7, 62, 187, 192–8, 202, 204–8; wind turbine industry, 45
Engberg, Arthur, 356
environmentalism, 120, 205–7
Enzensberger, Hans Magnus, 345, 346
Eriksen, Thomas Hylland: on Danish immigration and multiculturalism, 391; on Danish jokes about Norwegians, 213; on Norwegian immigration and multiculturalism, 178–80, 184–5; on Norwegian oil industry, 194–5, 206–8; on Norwegian–Swedish relations, 303; on Norwegian trust levels, 215–16
Eriksson, 297
Erlander, Tage, 347, 353, 356–7
Estonia, 47, 245, 287, 289
etiquette see manners and etiquette
eugenics, 356–7
Eurobarometer, 3, 44
European Values Study, 331–2
Eurovision Song Contest, 6–7, 257
Eve, Trevor, 11
Evenson, Jens, 194–5
Faarlund, Jan Terje, 9
Fälstkog, Agnetha, 320
family life, 358–60
farming see agriculture
Faroes, 23, 129
Fastelavn, 102
fat tax, Danish, 118–19
Fennoman movement, 264
Festen (film), 102
films, 6
financial services: Icelandic crash, 7, 62, 128–30, 135–42, 156–8, 160, 201
Finland, 217–90; advanced industries, 45–6; aggression, 253–4; alcohol consumption, 158, 223, 224, 244–56, 285; attitude to love, 229–30; author’s love for, 219–22; childcare, 275, 370; cities, 225; clothes and personal appearance, 224–5; contradictory nature, 257–8; corruption, 41, 221; crime, 223, 250–1; culture, 6–7, 223; defining statistic, 62; diet, 284–5; economic performance, 221, 285–6; education, 5, 70, 221, 274–81; Finnish and other languages spoken, 225–6, 228–9, 259, 278; Finnish attitude to, 282–3; future, 289; gender equality, 251, 286–9, 364; gun ownership, 229, 279–80; happiness, 4–5; history, 227, 259, 264–73; hotels, 284; housing, 284; ice-cream consumption, 257; and Iceland, 137, 146–7; identification with Europe, 289; immigration and multiculturalism, 237; internal migration, 59, 276; machismo, 251–2, 263, 289–90; manners, 221–2, 237–43; midges and mosquitoes, 284; national character, 8–9, 11–13; national day, 166; parties and celebrations, 17, 166; prescription drugs, 62, 223; railways, 283; and regional geopolitics, 209; religion, 225; rural areas, 283–5; and Russia, 227, 252, 264–73; saunas, 232–7; self-sufficiency, 362; social conformity, 225; societies, clubs and groups, 41; subvocal communications, 241; suicide rates, 223, 250; summer houses, 225; and Sweden, 258–63, 266–7, 294–5; taciturnity and modesty, 237–43, 289; tango, 257; technology, 7; tourism, 222; trust levels. 41, 45–6; trustworthiness, 228, 254–5; urban migration, 59; and USA, 268, 280; winter darkness, 254
Finland–Sweden International (Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu), 263
Finlandisation, 272–3
Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís, 134
Finnish Civil War (1918), 252, 264–5
Finnish People’s Moral Movement, 247–8
fishing industry, 7, 135–6, 188, 207
Fitts, Catherine Austin, 30
fjords, 190–1
flags, national, 104–6, 213
flora and fauna, 29, 30
folkelig, 102–6
food see diet
football, 115
Forbrydelsen see The Killing
Formula 1, 244–5
France, 45, 121, 155, 383
Frederik I, king of Denmark, 87
Fredholm, Dick, 324–5, 325–6
freedom of speech, 335–9, 341–2
Fremskrittsparti see Progress Party
French, Sean, 355
Freysson, Sindri, 140, 160
Friedman, David, 158
Friedman, Milton, 53, 65, 158
Friedman, Rose, 65
Frihammar, Mattias, 378–9
Frost, David, 319–20
fuel see energy
Fukuyama, Francis, 33
Funen (Fyn), 29, 83–4
funerals, 303–4
Gaddafi, Muammar, 328
Gallup World Poll, 3–4
Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, 313
gas industry, 197, 202
Gellhorn, Martha, 266
gender issues: equality in Denmark, 364–5, 366–7; equality in Finland, 251, 286–9, 364; equality in Iceland, 5, 134, 364–5; equality in Norway, 184, 185, 214, 364–5; equality in Sweden, 320, 346–7, 357, 364–70; talkativeness, 241
Germany: childcare, 369; and Denmark, 23–4, 110, 120–1; support for family, 360; and Sweden, 354
geysers, 155–6
Geysir, 155
Gill, A. A., 8
Gini, Corrado, 32
Gini Coefficient, 32–8
glaciers, 154
Gladwell, Malcolm, 278
Glitnir, 128–9
Global Competitiveness Index, 79, 202, 283, 297
global warming, 120, 121, 206
Gorbachev, Mikhail, 271
Gore, Al, 313
Göring, Hermann, 354
Gorm the Old, 85
Gråbøl, Sofie, 8
graduation celebrations, 170–1
Great Prayer Day see Store Bededag
GRECO see Group of States Against Corruption
Greece, 19, 155, 201–2
Green-Pedersen, Professor Christoffer, 65–6
Greenpeace, 205
Griffiths, Tony, 348
Grímsson, Ólafur Ragnar, 130, 141
Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), 141
Grundtvig, N. F. S., 28, 31–2
Guðmundsson, Björgólfur, 139
Gullfoss, 155
gun ownership, 223, 279–80
Gunnell, Terry, 137–8, 145, 147, 150–3, 157
Gustav I Vasa, king of Sweden, 21–2, 86
Gustav II Adolf, king of Sweden, 314, 340
Gustav IV Adolf, king of Sweden, 374
H&M, 7, 297
Haakon VII, king of Norway, 354, 374
Haakon, Crown prince of Norway, 163, 215–16
Haarde, Geir, 130, 140, 158
Haarder, Bertel, 392
Hækkerup, Per, 194
Hafstein, Valdimar, 149–50
hákarl, 131–2
Hall, Edward T., 237–8
Hall, Tony, 32, 355
Halland, 22
Hamsun, Knut, 176–7, 186, 188–9
Hansson, Per Albin, 353, 356–7
happiness: and autonomy, 388–9; Denmark, 1–5, 28–30, 113–24; Finland, 4–5; and health equality, 36–7; Iceland, 2–3, 4–5; Japan, 36; Norway, 4–5; survey flaws, 35–6; Sweden, 4–5; UK, 1; USA, 36; and wealth distribution, 33–6
Happy Planet Index, 36
Harald V, king of Norway, 163, 215, 374
Harald Bluetooth, 51, 85
Hardwick, Neil: on Cold War in Finland, 269–70, 270–1; on Finnish alcohol consumption, 254; on Finnish Civil War’s effects, 265; on Finnish identification with Europe, 289; on Finnish women, 286–7; love for Finl
and, 283; on Swedish Finns, 261
Härmä, 251
health and health care: Denmark, 37, 58, 71–2, 72–3, 119; health equality and happiness, 36–7
Helliwell, John, 4
Helsingør (Elsinore), 21
Helsinki: alcohol consumption, 245, 255–6; atmosphere, 187, 224, 225–7; and design, 285; Kamppi Mall, 281; National Museum, 226–7; saunas, 233–6; shabbier areas, 231–2; tourist board website, 222; wildlife, 280
Hendin, Herbert, 367, 368
Henning, Paul, 192
Henriksen, Martin, 338
Hermansen, Anne Sophia, 122
Herodotus, 155
Hinduism, 108–9
historical re-enactment, 50–1
Hitchens, Christopher, 313
Hitler, Adolf, 23, 133, 176, 267
HIV/AIDS, 357
Hofstede, Geert, 263
Høglund, Morten, 181
holidays, 60, 109; see also parties and celebrations
Holland, 193
Hollande, François, 295
Holm, Kalle, 280
Holst, H. P., 25
Holstein, 23
home ownership, 62, 68
Hong Kong, 276
Hørdum, 110–11
hotels, 284
housing, 62, 68, 284
housing estates, 321–9
Human Development Index, 4, 70, 134, 213–14, 297
humarsúpa, 131
Hummel, 118
Huntford, Roland, 345
Huntington, Samuel, 257
hygge, 98–102
Ibrahimović, Zlatan, 325
ice-cream consumption, 257
Iceland, 125–60; alcohol consumption, 131, 139, 147, 158, 248; corruption, 141–2; crime, 129; defining statistic, 62; and Denmark, 133, 137, 138, 143–7; diet, 131–2, 137; drugs, 128; energy industry, 159–60; financial crash, 7, 62, 128–30, 135–42, 156–8, 160, 201; and Finland, 137, 146–7; fishing industry, 135–6; future, 159–60, 388; gender equality, 5, 134, 364–5; happiness, 2–3, 4–5; history, 23, 127, 132–4; Icelandic language, 127; IT industry, 160; landscape and climate, 154–6; life expectancy, 5, 134; media ownership, 139–40, 141, 142; national character, 8–9, 11–13; national day, 166; and Norway, 144, 146; population, 127, 141–2; racism, 182; and regional geopolitics, 209; religion, 87, 149, 152; smoking, 158; social connectedness, 140–2; superstition, 148–53; survival instinct, 153; and Sweden, 137; taciturnity, 240; taxation, 157–8; tourism, 131, 159; and USA, 133, 157–8; welfare state, 158
Iisalmi, 284
IKEA, 7, 297, 298
immigration and multiculturalism: Denmark, 4, 54, 182, 184–5, 296, 322, 331, 335–9, 381–2, 391; Finland, 237; Iceland, 182; Nordic overview, 389–91; Norway, 168–9, 172–85, 215, 322; Sweden, 53–4, 62, 296, 321–43, 355–6, 390–1; and trust levels, 53–4
Independence Party (Iceland), 140, 142
Index of Economic Freedom, 134
Ingels, Bjarke, 6
innovation, 122
Insomnia (film), 284
Iraq War (2003), 118
Ireland, 201
Irving, David, 176
Islamophobia, 172–85, 321–43
Isovaara, Lars, 342
IT industry, 160
Italy, 67–8, 251, 384
Jacobsen, Arne, 29, 57
Jalving, Mikael, 336–7
Janssen, Tove, 262
Jante Law, 89–97, 305
Japan: character traits, 241; happiness, 36; trust levels, 49; and USA, 157; wealth distribution, 35
Jelling stones, 84–5
Jenkins, Richard, 100, 104, 105–6, 121, 391
Jensen, Siv, 175, 328
Jensen, Thor, 139
Jessen, Inga, 138
Jóhanneson, Jón Ásgeir, 139–40
Johanssen, Scarlett, 11
John, Elton, 128
Johnsen, Sigbjørn, 200
Jones, Tom, 128
Jónsson, Jóhannes, 139–40
Jonsson, Stefan, 336–8, 380, 382–3, 385–6
Jutland, 25, 84–5, 107–12
Kalevala, 264
Kalmar Union (1397), 21, 392
Karelia, 268
Karjalainen, Ahti, 244
Kaupthing, 128–9, 139
Kaurismäki, Aki, 223–4
Keeping Up Appearances (TV series), 11
Keflavik, 157
Kekkonen, Urho, 233, 268–70
Khrushchev, Nikita, 269
Kiel, Treaty of (1814), 23
Kierkegaard, Søren, 25
The Killing (Forbrydelsen; TV series), 6
Kissinger, Henry, 313, 347
Kjærsgaard, Pia, 339
Kleifarvatn, 152
Klovn (TV series), 30
knitting, 187
Knudsen, Anne, 26, 64, 94, 114, 123, 337, 366–7
Købke, Christen, 25
Kolbe, Laura: on Finnish autonomy, 264; on Finnish national character, 290; on Finnish–Swedish relations, 262–3; on Sweden, 294; on 20th-century Finnish history, 265, 267, 269, 270, 272
Kronberg, Julius, 319
Kuopio, 284, 285
labour mobility, 59
Lagarfljót, 152
lagom, 305
Laki, eruption of (1783), 133
Landsbanki, 128–9, 137, 139, 142
languages: Danish, 9, 29, 30, 214–15, 229; Finnish, 225–6, 228–9, 259, 278; Icelandic, 127; Norwegian, 214; Norwegian regional dialects, 388; Scandinavian influence on English, 9–10; Swedish, 278
Lapland, 219, 268
Larsen, Tord, 238
Larsson, Stieg, 6, 298, 385
Laugarvatnshellar caves, 152
Layard, Richard, 4
Lego, 30
Legoland, 111–12
Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich, 264
Lewis, Michael, 135, 138–9
Lewis, Richard D., 237, 238–9, 241, 257–8
Liberal Alliance Party (Denmark), 64, 74
life expectancy, 5, 72, 134
Lillelund, Niels, 122
Lind, Jenny, 385
Lindgren, Astrid, 385
Lindh, Anne, 385
Lindisfarne, 9
Linnet, Jeppe Trolle, 100
literature, 6, 25, 298, 385
London, 238, 260
Lönnrot, Elias, 264
Lordi, 7, 257
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 57
love, attitudes to, 229–30
Luther, Martin, 86
Lutheranism, 86–7, 96, 352
Luxembourg, 197
Lykketoft, Mogens, 76–80, 81–2
McCartney, Paul, 387
Mærsk, 120, 196–7
Malmö, 54, 293, 390–1; Rosengård estate, 321–9
Mandag Morgen, 39
Mangs, Peter, 328
Mankell, Henning, 6, 298, 385
Mannerheim, Carl Gustaf, 262, 264, 268
manners and etiquette: Denmark, 42, 101–2; Finland, 221–2, 237–43; Iceland, 240; Norway, 240; Sweden, 240, 306–8, 310–19; see also taciturnity
Margaret I, queen of Denmark, 21, 392
Margaret II, queen of Denmark, 374, 376, 378
Marmot, Michael, 36
Mary, Crown princess of Denmark, 375, 379
media: Denmark, 27; Iceland, 139–40, 141, 142; Sweden, 384
Messerschmidt, Morten, 61
midges, 284
Midsomer Murders (TV series), 11
Midsummer’s Eve, 17–18, 19–20
Mikkelsen, Mads, 6
mobile phones, 285–6
Mohammed cartoon crisis (2005), 106, 118, 183, 328
Molesworth, Robert, 69
Møller, Mærsk Mc-Kinney, 96, 196
monarchy, 373–9
Monpezat, Henri de, 375
Montesquieu, Baron, 155
Monty Python, 11
Mork, Knut Anton, 203
Mortensaften, 102
mosquitoes, 284
motor racing, 244–5
multiculturalism see immigration and multiculturalism
murder see crime
Mussolini, Benito, 32
Myrin, Eric, 339–42
Napoleonic wars, 22–3
national character, 8–9, 11–13
national days, 163–71, 178–9
Negerby, 182
Nelson, Horatio, 22
Netherlands see Holland
New Economics Foundation, 36
New Zealand, 276
Nilson, Ulf: on Sweden in Second World War, 354; on Swedish centralised state, 346, 349–50, 358; on Swedish economic model, 383; on Swedish eugenics programme, 356–7; on Swedish monarchy, 377; on Swedish women, 368
Nissum estuary, 109–10
Nobel, Alfred, 312
The Almost Nearly Perfect People Page 42
