Modern Finland

Its been said that the Finns mastered social distancing long before the Pandemic – so how did tango become a national obsession? With one of the highest personal income tax rates in the world, why are the Finns so happy with their government? Is there really a sauna at the Burger King – and on a Ferris wheel? Are the Sami and the Kale people happy too? Does Finland really offer a “Master Class on Happiness”? Let’s take both a serious and a lighthearted look at the interplay of recent history, social conditions, tradition, and the simple pleasures of life that contribute to making Finland the happiest place in the world. The United Nations World Happiness Report, imperfect though
it may seem even to many Finns, is our jumping off point for discussing how socioeconomic factors, the environment, cultural norms, globalization, and the Finnish concept of personal responsibility have marked the path to “happiness” for modern Finns.