High taxing Nordic nations are the happiest in the world, but how do those taxes affect other parts of their economy? Well, our latest report has compared 188 countries and the results show that high taxes usually correlates with higher incomes and healthier, happier people! 1/10 2/10 The new report from @NordicPolicyCtr & @TheAusInstitute's @MattGrudnoff uses real world examples in a global analysis that exposes the anti-tax ideology of those who say higher taxes act as a drag on the economy. You can read the full report here > tai.org.au/content/tax-an…

Norway auctions more salmon leases - gets $921.2 million for Norwegians. Meanwhile in Tasmania - not so much #politas #auspol intrafish.com/salmon/here-ar… Tasmanians still missing out on revenue from fish farms #auspol #politas tai.org.au/content/tasman…

10 years ago Australia finally introduced statutory, nationwide paid maternity leave. This was a positive step but it was only for maternity leave & only provided 18 weeks pay at minimum wage. Small improvements have been made since, but there is still more to do @TheAusInstitute We could learn a lot from the Nordic countries when it comes to designing a system that properly supports families and, importantly, helps to share the parenting responsibilities between mothers and fathers.

Iceland has, once again, been named the world's most peaceful country. That's 13 years in a row! How do they do it? By focusing on:
✅improved societal safety and security
✅avoiding domestic and international conflict
✅reducing militarisation
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2020… The @GlobPeaceIndex has ranked countries by a series of global peace indicators every year since 2008. In 2020, Australia is ranked as the 13th most peaceful country in the world and all of the Nordic nations are within the top 20.

A renewed focus on skills is welcome news. Australia does not properly recognise or resource vocational pathways. Finland provides a leading example of how to do it well

A THREAD 1/ > 2/ Australia needs to achieve a better balance between vocational and academic learning, like Finland - where people can and do switch between the two - within a policy which recognises each as 'equal but different' #auspol #covid19au >
nordicpolicycentre.org.au/degrees_north

As we rebuild economically from #Covid_19, it's important to balance the needs of people and planet. In Amsterdam they are doing this by embracing the so-called 'doughnut model', aiming to offer everyone fair social terms within safe ecological limits. weforum.org/agenda/2020/05… The doughnut model says no one should be falling short on the essentials of life but, at the same time, humanity must live within the ecological boundaries that aim to preserve the Earth’s resources.

The Danish Government has refused to give #COVID bailout money to companies that are registered in tax havens! 👏👏👏 This is an important step towards stopping corporate greed and tax evasion but, unfortunately, Australia hasn't followed suit #auspol @TheAusInstitute Corporate tax loss to international havens is a serious global problem, estimated to cost between $500b and $600b a year. In Australia, for example, BHP was forced to pay $529m to the ATO in 2018 over its attempts to minimise tax payments through Singaporean entities.

There's been a lot of attention on cruise ships ⛴️ lately, but did you know that prisons are epicentres for infectious diseases too? Fortunately, Nordic justice systems emphasise non-custodial alternatives, which has helped them respond to #COVID19 For example, in response to COVID-19, Norway is abolishing the use of double and multi-bed cells, housing all inmates in single cells to prevent the spread of infection. This preventative measure is only possible due to their relatively low rates of incarceration.

Making steel is very emissions intensive, creating up to 10% of global CO2 pollution. But now a Swedish company is on track to develop fossil fuel free steel a decade earlier than many thought possible. How? Let's take a look (thread) @TheAusInstitute
nordicpolicycentre.org.au/fossil_fuel_fr… Traditionally steel is made using coal to produce the intense heat required. However, Hydrogen can be used as an alternative fuel source. If the Hydrogen is produced through electrolysis from renewable energy it is fossil fuel free.

Norway's PM Erna Solberg has held a special press conference, just for the children of Norway, answering their questions about #coronavirus 👏👏👏 @TheAusInstitute
reuters.com/article/us-hea… The questions were sourced from children's TV programs and newspapers across the country and included “Can I have a birthday party?”, “Can I visit my grandparents after I went to a shopping center?”, “How long does it take to make a vaccine?” or “What can I do to help?” ❤️

Finland’s library system is second to none and Finns are among the most avid library users in the world, so much so that libraries are referred to as “citizens’ living rooms” But why is that? 📙📖📚 (a thread) 1/6 @TheAusInstitute nordicpolicycentre.org.au/citizens_livin… Libraries are essential parts of Finnish civic culture and are the second highest rated public service in the country after drinking water 🥤. They symbolise education, transparency, equality and active citizenship. They are a public good. 2/6

In 2016, the Ford factory in Geelong closed its doors. Today, that site is being used by Danish company Vestas to assemble and test wind turbines, using word leading technological innovation and research. @TheAusInstitute
nordicpolicycentre.org.au/geelong_s_indu… This transition gives us an opportunity to investigate and improve the way we manage industrial change in 🇦🇺. @NordicPolicyCtr was pleased to host a regional jobs symposium with @Deakin University, looking at what we can learn from Denmark in achieving better job transitions

💥Nearly 7 months paid parental leave, for both parents💥 Finland has taken an extraordinary step towards improved pregnancy leave, paternity leave and gender equality, once again showing Australia what is possible #auspol @TheAusInstitute
uk.reuters.com/article/uk-fin… "Paid paternity leave will be extended to nearly seven months, in line with maternity leave. Around half can be given to the o ther parent. Pregnant women are also entitled to a month of pregnancy leave before the expected date of birth." 👏👏👏

Finland's education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. This report on @abc730 shows just how much Australia could learn from our Finnish friends when it comes to the funding, design and operation of our school system 1/7
abc.net.au/7.30/why-finla… In Finland, schools are well resourced and not allowed to raise private funds or charge fees from parents - all schools are equitably funded from taxation. "We want our schools to be equal and have equal opportunities to arrange the education," says Principal Aija Rinkinen 2/7

ABC’s #ForeignCorrespondent re immigration in Denmark is on now. Denmark has long been one of the happiest, most equal and safest nations in the world but, like any country, there are some Danes who seek to exploit racism and xenophobia for political gain #auspol @ForeignOfficial @ForeignOfficial Historically, the Nordic nations have strong records of anti-racist statements and actions, including their leading participation in the anti-Apartheid movement and repeated generous contributions to international aid @TheAusInstitute #ForeignCorrespondent

Up to 97% of Norway’s plastic bottles are now recycled!♻️👏💥

In Australia, only a third of plastic waste is currently recycled. What can we learn from our plastic-fantastc Nordic friends? @TheAusInstitute #auspol
iflscience.com/environment/97… 1. In #Norway, all plastic producers and importers are subject to an environmental tax of around 40 cents per bottle. However, the more the company recycles, the lower the tax. If the company manages to recycle over 95 percent of its plastic, then the tax is dropped.

Visiting Icelandic academic Ásdís Aðalbjörg Arnalds is in Sydney today, as a guest of The Australia Institute @NordicPolicyCtr , to present her new research on Icelandic paid parental leave – in particular the importance of fathers/paternity leave #auspol Nordic countries have a long history of placing emphasis on policies providing both mothers and fathers with the opportunity to work and care.

Universities and VET should be in 'the same sentence': Berejiklian. Very true! #auspol @TheAusInstitute
smh.com.au/politics/nsw/u… @GladysB will urge her state counterparts to treat vocational training as an equal to university education at tomorrow's Council of Australian Governments' meeting. Berejiklian said European countries such as Germany had a strong emphasis on the importance of vocational training.

Australian vocational training is in crisis. In a new @NordicPolicyCtr report, we say Australia should consider whether it wants a higher education and vocational training system more like that of Finland or more like the USA.
@TheAusInstitute #auspol
afr.com/news/policy/he… The report shows how the higher education and training experience of Finland should be used as a blueprint for improving outcomes here in Australia. It's been released ahead of a roundtable discussion being hosted by The Embassy of Finland in Canberra next week.

Tax is front & centre in #AusVotes19, but what can we learn from other countries on this crucial topic? @TheAusInstitute's Nordic Policy Centre has taken a look at 'skatt', the Swedish word for tax which has another meaning: 'treasure'
Get the report here nordicpolicycentre.org.au/skatt_treasure… Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway are among the world's most highly ranked countries in terms of prosperity and innovation, consistently ranking well above Australia. They are also among the most equal in terms of income distribution – much more equal than Australia.

Electric vehicles have certianly become a hot button #auspol issue, but do we really need to worry about an EV future in Australia? Our research shows that the answer, in one word, is "No".

@TheAusInstitute @audreyge0rge

tai.org.au/sites/default/… #Norway and other Nordic countries have implemented a suite of policies to boost EV uptake, with great success, including;
- Registration rebates
- Tax credits
- Reduced/waived tolls and parking fees
- Access to bus lanes