Isn't Norway a petrostate? Or is that the point of the joke?
this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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I'm so tired of this Norway is only successful because of oil cop out.
Norway, and all other Nordic countries, by adopting social-democratic policies of the Nordic model, became rich before the discovery of oil.
Norway just happened to get incredibly lucky afterwards with oil, but even after becoming a petrostate, still has similar incomes and high standards of living to the rest of the Nordic countries, who don't have oil.
And, as the other commenter pointed out, both the UK and Norway (and the Netherlands while we're at it) discovered North sea oil at the same time. The three pursued three rather different policies; of them, the Nordic policies have produced the most fiscally healthy outcome.
And, equally so, now that we're selling out our welfare and becoming little America, everything is going to shit here in Sweden.
Oh, absolutely. I'm not saying Norway's oil is the sole (or even most significant) reason for its success, but a different country might have been a more direct comparison.
It might even have "dutch diseased" them a while. Swedens industry was (and is) booming while Norway didn't really have that much. Now they're back on track for what I know, by fantastic management IMO. But cheap natural resources are often a blessing in disguise.
The point is that Norway didn't allow private interests to take all of their oil for no benefit to the nation.
The point is that it’s wealth belongs to the people and not just the wealthy.
We've been so brainwashed for so long, hearing someone say it sounds absurd, but you are right, it should belong to the people.
Hey hey none of that here please, won't someone please think of all the rich people! they need to get their kicks from asset stripping and firing everyone
its
ever heard of bp? british petrol
and the brits have been at the exploiting natural resources for centuries
UK has North Sea oil.
I hadn't considered that! But looking at wikipedia, Norway has 8100 million barrels of proven reserves, vs UK's 2500.
England and Wales are the only countries in the world which have fully privatised both our water sources AND water infrastructure.
We're doubly fucked
It's happening all over the US, too. But we have our dip shit city planners still trying to make infinite suburban creep a thing.
With the execs of said water companies dragging home MOUNTAINS of cash.
Norway is privatising a tonne of shit, from public transport to generating electricity. It will go to shit of Norway continues in the same path it has for the past 20 years.
Source: am Norwegian.
You come to me on my daughter’s wedding day, and tell me that neoliberals are assholes? This I can not let stand.
The problem with capitalism is eventually you run out of other peoples labor and assets to steal. But I think this stats in this comparison is juiced by the Norwegian oil.
I was about to say the same thing but then I remembered the UK has North Sea oil, too.
Now the UK owns nothing and has £3tn in debt
The UK has accumulated plenty of valuable capital in this period and spends a sizeable chunk of that accrued debt protecting it.
They can take it back whenever they choose. The Brits simply have a national, state, and local leadership more invested in the well-being of the leisure class than the working class.
but where is the sauces
Beautiful