The Denmark secret: how it became the most trusting country

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

High levels of social trust in Denmark underpin everyday life, from children roaming cities freely to citizens casually accessing parliament, and are seen as a key reason many residents accept lower tech salaries and high taxes in exchange for strong public services and safety. Commenters contrast this with more anxious, individualistic societies, noting how factors like cultural cohesion, work–life balance and universal welfare shape both economic choices and personal freedoms. At the same time, they point to downsides for outsiders and dissenters — from exclusionary norms and “Jante Law” to tensions over immigration and homeschooling — suggesting that Denmark’s model, while attractive, is neither simple nor universally welcoming.

Quality of life vs compensation

  • Multiple workers in Denmark report significantly lower tech salaries than in the US, but still higher than many European countries.
  • US big-tech offices in Denmark can pay 2×+ local senior dev rates, mainly via stock; Danish firms rarely offer equity and often cap upside.
  • Some say the best-paying local roles are concentrated in scale-ups, well-funded startups, and select large firms, often via informal hiring networks.
  • There are complaints that many jobs are never truly advertised and hiring can feel like nepotism, framed locally as “trust.”
  • Many posters emphasize that quality of life (kids’ freedom, low crime, healthcare, daycare, no need for cars) outweighs lower cash pay.

Taxes, costs, and the welfare state

  • Nominal top income tax near 55% is debated; several claim typical effective rates around mid-30s to ~40% at high incomes, comparable to some US cities after all taxes.
  • High VAT and income tax are seen as “insane” by some, but others argue they buy excellent services and social safety.
  • A special expat tax scheme (lower flat rate) exists for very high earners.
  • Denmark is noted for low government debt and solid trade balance but high private/housing debt.

Trust, safety, and children’s independence

  • Parents in Denmark and parts of Germany describe letting kids roam cities or neighborhoods freely, unlocked bikes, mutual oversight, and low fear of crime.
  • In the US, leaving kids unattended is associated with interventions by child protection services despite low stranger-kidnapping risk.
  • There is discussion of comparative missing-child statistics suggesting substantially fewer cases in Denmark than in the US, even after accounting for definitional differences.

Cultural homogeneity, values, and immigration

  • A major thread debates whether high trust stems from cultural homogeneity.
  • Some argue Denmark is relatively homogeneous by global standards and actively promotes assimilation (e.g., mandatory daycare with Danish values in high-immigrant areas).
  • Others contest equating culture with ethnicity, stressing that shared civic values, not “racial purity,” matter. Switzerland is cited as diverse yet high-trust.
  • Several note strong pressure to conform and a distinctive “Danishness” that immigrants often find exclusionary or cult-like.

Comparisons with other countries

  • Denmark is contrasted with:
    • The US: higher pay but worse safety net, more anxiety about healthcare, education, and crime; small Midwestern towns once felt similar to Denmark but are now described as hit by opioids, meth, stagnation, and declining institutions.
    • Germany: compulsory schooling (no homeschooling) seen by some as authoritarian and by others as a safeguard against parallel societies.
    • India and Eastern Europe: examples of high or comparable effective tax rates with poorer services or lower trust.
    • France: cited research on a “society of distrust” for contrast.

Critiques and downsides of Denmark

  • Posters caution that glowing portrayals omit a “dark side”:
    • Jante Law (social norm against standing out),
    • very “feminine”/consensus-oriented values,
    • exclusive social culture, and
    • harsh climate.
  • Some expats describe Denmark as great for work and raising kids “if you play along,” but emotionally or socially difficult otherwise.
  • It’s noted that expat satisfaction rankings place Denmark near the bottom despite high objective indicators.
  • Another concern: high trust can shade into gullibility and easy exploitation, especially by newcomers who don’t adopt local norms; several believe trust is declining over the last decades, particularly in Dane–foreigner relations.

Education, socialization, and state power

  • The role of schools as tools of socialization is debated via Germany’s ban on homeschooling.
  • Proponents say compulsory schooling protects children, prevents extreme parallel subcultures, and fosters shared democratic values.
  • Opponents emphasize children with special needs (e.g., ADHD), bad institutional experiences, and the desire for parental autonomy, especially if the state itself becomes illiberal.