Denmark is one of the most expensive countries in the world to get building work done. Standard daily rates right now are approximately 350 kroner per hour, plus 25% MOMs / VAT.
To be fair, the builders themselves do not see much of it. Of a notional 500 kroner per hour, 100 krone comprises sales tax, so that leaves 400 kroner. Of this, the builder must pay his business expenses, business taxes (25%), then personal taxes on top (at least another 15%). Therefore, out 500 kroner, he probably ends up with about 160 kroner in his pocket.
It's no surprise therefore that "sort arbejde", or black labour / cash in hand work, is so common in Denmark. Furthermore, due the excessive welfare state, many people who would work as labourers, etc., in other countries, find it easier to take the welfare payments and sit on benches in the town drinking beer, rather than bother getting their hands dirty with an honest days graft.
as a foreigner , of course, you are not so likely to have the family or social contacts to employ cash in hand workers, so us foreigners end up footing the bill twice over.
Bear this in mind, if your dream house (eg. The Villa Montana, Hobro) comes up for sale and you need to get a lot of work done.
Next time, I'll give you some personal experiences of Danish Building contractor quality.
Showing posts with label state welfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state welfare. Show all posts
Friday, April 11, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Blogging away
If anybody out there is wondering why my blog isn't being updated so often nowadays, the reason is simple enough. Following the latest debacle with Ken Lynge Primby and his "allegedly" fraudulent activity at mine and others expense, I decided to leave. Truth is, this was the last straw in a series of bad experiences in this unpleasant country.
If you read this and you're thinking of moving to Denmark, I'd ask you please to consider very carefully before committing yourself, and, if you do, don't bring any money with you, otherwise they'll get it off you somehow. I have never seen a country more obsessed by money than Denmark, although, since the taxes are so high, criminal activity and theft, which starts with the government and their ludicrously high tax rates, are the only way for anyone to make a bit of money on the side.
I may be financially much, much poorer for the experience of living in this hell, but much wiser in life. I've been more sure of where I stand on the issue of whether the welfare state actually works, thats for sure.
If you read this and you're thinking of moving to Denmark, I'd ask you please to consider very carefully before committing yourself, and, if you do, don't bring any money with you, otherwise they'll get it off you somehow. I have never seen a country more obsessed by money than Denmark, although, since the taxes are so high, criminal activity and theft, which starts with the government and their ludicrously high tax rates, are the only way for anyone to make a bit of money on the side.
I may be financially much, much poorer for the experience of living in this hell, but much wiser in life. I've been more sure of where I stand on the issue of whether the welfare state actually works, thats for sure.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Why are Socialist countries like Denmark so apparently rich?
A lot of people, usually academic economists and fans of socialism who've never actually lived in Denmark make the Nordic model out to be some great utopian society, but they forget two things:-
1) The Scandinavian countries are all very rich in natural resources, even if it is often claimed otherwise. Denmark and Norway are, per capita, two of the world's biggest oil producers. Iceland and Denmark (esp. through Greenland) are two of the biggest seafood producers, then finally Sweden and Finland are so full of trees they supply much of the timber and pulp paper throughout Europe. Without these assets, these countries would run massive trade deficits and be unable to afford their generous welfare state.
2) These countries have successfully monetised many aspects of private family life that was previously outside the scope of inclusion in official economic figures like GDP. Take childcare and elderly care, for example, in Denmark, you'll often find 2 women work as childcarers, and as part of the system they drop their own children off with other childcarers! It's the same as paying someone to paint your house while you pay them to paint yours. A no-brainer for government, since it's more tax-collection opportunities, but bad news for individuals.
Can anyone even put a cost of the long-term social damage it does to families? Funnily enough, Danes are reknowned as "serial mongamists", IE drifting from one relationship to another, collecting kids from various relationships and partners along the way. You almost feel weird here if you keep the same partner for more than 5-7 years (the old 7 year itch, eh?)
1) The Scandinavian countries are all very rich in natural resources, even if it is often claimed otherwise. Denmark and Norway are, per capita, two of the world's biggest oil producers. Iceland and Denmark (esp. through Greenland) are two of the biggest seafood producers, then finally Sweden and Finland are so full of trees they supply much of the timber and pulp paper throughout Europe. Without these assets, these countries would run massive trade deficits and be unable to afford their generous welfare state.
2) These countries have successfully monetised many aspects of private family life that was previously outside the scope of inclusion in official economic figures like GDP. Take childcare and elderly care, for example, in Denmark, you'll often find 2 women work as childcarers, and as part of the system they drop their own children off with other childcarers! It's the same as paying someone to paint your house while you pay them to paint yours. A no-brainer for government, since it's more tax-collection opportunities, but bad news for individuals.
Can anyone even put a cost of the long-term social damage it does to families? Funnily enough, Danes are reknowned as "serial mongamists", IE drifting from one relationship to another, collecting kids from various relationships and partners along the way. You almost feel weird here if you keep the same partner for more than 5-7 years (the old 7 year itch, eh?)
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