Lakey, George (2016) Viking Economics, Brooklyn, NY: Melville House Publishers, 231 pages

The author introduces a mild form of socialism( social democratic capitalism) that exists in and among Scandinavian  countries. Although the information for these upper “north” may be valid,   it is a progressive fantasy for the United States.  Lakey  did not note that most countries in the world are a variation of fascism. That is about 80%, so 20 % are democracies. The United States is one of them. However, The USA  has been descending in world GDP  and in terms of many other pathologies began to emerge around the mid 60’s  in America. Thus  some old wounds were opened .As we continue to change, the intermix of policies leave the country more divided and more angry. At this moment, one presidential candidate is described as a profound liar. The other carries the “fascist” label.

However, the Right appears to have won. The basic values of Conservatives were muted by Obama, but much of the country is still on the Right. The United States in terms of ordinal measures of various qualities strongly suggest that the most powerful nation is high on weaponry and money but most other attributes is in the middle or toward the bottom.

Here in the states CEO’s continue to climb in terms of salaries. This means from 1965 was 20 times from the median worker. Today, it is 204 times. When Globalization hit the post industrial/information society accelerated  the difference, the author describes what Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and especially Norway reduced the stress on the middle class and working poor. These countries inequality is much less.

Now there is something for the structural poor which means folks who are poor even in the best of times. You keep pushing and  mandate transportation to work for them. Taxes are transparent up north. A Scandinavian  knows how the taxes are spent.

Up  there are governments  of the various countries that act as large purchasing agents for health and basic goods for substance of life.  In  the United States  one

has one of the lowest tax country but with tons of hidden taxes. Scandinavians  have one of the highest taxes but the tax policy is popular because it covers so many basic necessities. The states is very far behind in terms of the safety net.

When overwhelmed by big American corporations, the folks fight back with Cooperatives. If many lose their jobs, the four or five countries reduce salaries across the board to save the middle class. If work is rushed and pushed, all across the country, there is a massive slow down. Norway has a 30 hour week and one month off in the summer.

They invite others to fight the IMF a huge world fund that pushes “trickle down” financing. They want Keynesianism and so they come together. Although they have been cheated by mainly American banks, they came together to grow again.

The author invites the Left of center readers to fight for Viking Economics. To this reviewer, it is a long stretch. Of all the democracies, the USA as this has been changed  downward for the middle class and working poor so on balance have less.

However, the book is a good read. His suggestions are good ones, but probably not attractive to Americans. Taxes would be higher here, but tertiary income or spendable income would increase. For most Yanks that is just not understandable.

Prof. Joel Snell

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa