Norwegians and Icelanders let Alaskans in on the secrets to economic prosperity
A year and a half into Alaska’s recession, in which thousands of jobs have been lost statewide, Alaskans are looking for salvation. Some see it in a sound fiscal plan, with the definition of “sound” being up for debate, others in a natural gas pipeline that will cost the state billions of dollars. And some are content to simply wait for the price of oil to bounce back, as it’s always done before.
Text: Jeannette Lee Falsey
With delegations from Nordic countries in Fairbanks last week for the ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council, Alaskans seemed eager to tap the expertise of fellow northerners whose economies these days are highly successful.
One talk, “Lessons from Norway: Developing a Dynamic Economy in the Far North,” drew a sold-out crowd to Raven Landing, a senior residence and community center.
Norway is a much smaller country than the United States, with its population of just over 5 million people, about equivalent to that of South Carolina. But the average Norwegian is wealthier than the average American. In 2015, gross national income per person in Norway was nearly $94,000, compared to $56,000 per person in the United States.
