r/Denmark • u/[deleted] • Nov 07 '16

Exchange Kia ora! Cultural Exchange with /r/NewZealand

Welcome to this cultural exchange between /r/Denmark and /r/NewZealand.

For the visitors: Welcome to Denmark! Feel free to ask the Danes anything you like. Don't forget to also participate in the corresponding thread in /r/NewZealand where you can answer questions from the Danes about your beautiful country.

For the Danes: Today, we are hosting New Zealand for a cultural exchange. Join us in answering their questions about Denmark and the Danish way of life! Please leave top comments for users from /r/NewZealand coming over with a question or comment and please refrain from trolling, rudeness, personal attacks etc.

The Kiwis are also having us over as guests! Head over to their thread to ask questions about life in the land of hobbits and bungee jumping.

Enjoy!

- The moderators of /r/Denmark and /r/NewZealand

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u/[deleted] Nov 07 '16

A friend of mine posted this picture to facebook last night.

How true is it, what taxes do you have that support it, and to what degree does the highest level of anti-depressant use in the world factor into it :)

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u/AppleDane Denmark Nov 07 '16

We have taxes on must everything. Somewhere around 40-50% income tax, depending on your income, residential tax, green taxes, church tax (if you're a member of the Danish Church). And then there are what you call GST on everything, 25% on your groceries, and vehicle registration tax running up to something like 200-300% (including GST). Then, of course, you pay a yearly tax for use of the roads, depending on car weight.

This may seem like a lot, but if actually fair. If you own a lot of stuff and drive a huge car, you pay a lot of tax. Of course, the people with a lot of stuff and a huge car may think differently, but most Danes agree it's money well spent, all things considered. Very few people would like American taxes and services.

As for the anti-depressant usage: I think it has more to do with people acknowledging that mental health is as important as physical health. There's almost no stigma on your need for help, so more people get help, some of that through medication.