Over the years several Finnish readers (OK, one specific Finnish reader) has made the repeated claim that some of the stereotypes that Americans have of politically correct (Fenno)-Scandinavians is actually typical of Sweden, and not Finland, or even the other Nordic countries. As I’ve been poking around The World Values Survey I think there is something to this. There are some sets of questions where the Swedes give much more “Politically Correct” answers than Finns, or even other Nordics. I note that the answers are Politically Correct because I’m not necessarily saying that the answers someone gives on a survey necessarily translates into the same magnitude of public policy difference. The World Values Survey happens to have Denmark, Sweden and Finland (at least the Four-wave Aggregate of the Values Studies which I’m using). I decided to post responses to a large range of questions (obviously a finite set) for these three nations, as well as Italy as European outgroup. Many of the responses were as you would expect; the Nordic countries are more openly secular than Italy. The fact that Italians were more hostile to the idea of living next to large families also was not surprising, at least judging from what I’ve heard of how they view the French as breeders. On the other hand, there are a host of questions where Sweden is the outgroup, and another set where Sweden and Denmark are relatively close, with Finland approaching Italy in social outlooks. Finally, many of the results reinforce an interesting point that was clear when I looked at Hong Kong: socialist nations often exhibit some fatigue at the extent of the nanny state, while nations with thinner social safety nets have a more positive attitude toward future extension of the welfare state. Since the results below are a finite subset I invite readers to go in and explore The World Values Survey themselves.
Note: Sample sizes are around 1,000 for each nation. Additionally the surveys were done in 1999 to 2001.
| Denmark | Finland | Italy | Sweden | |
| Family very important | 87.1 | 80 | 90 | 89.5 |
| Politics very important | 8.1 | 3.7 | 8 | 11.4 |
| Religion very important | 7.9 | 13.8 | 33 | 10.7 |
| Very happy | 45.1 | 24.3 | 18.4 | 36.7 |
| Mentions good manners as important child quality | 72.4 | 89.8 | 74.8 | 70.3 |
| Mentions independence as important child quality | 80.7 | 57.6 | 41.1 | 68.8 |
| Mentions hard work as important child quality | 2.1 | 12 | 36.1 | 3.9 |
| Mentions tolerance and respect as important child quality | 87.3 | 82.7 | 75 | 92.5 |
| Mentions thrift as important child quality | 9.6 | 22.6 | 34.7 | 30.5 |
| Mentions religious faith as important child quality | 8.2 | 15.7 | 31.4 | 4.9 |
| Mentions unselfishness as important child quality | 55.8 | 20.8 | 41.4 | 32.7 |
| Mentions obedience as important child quality | 14.4 | 30.2 | 27.8 | 12.7 |
| Approve abortion when woman not married | 81.4 | 59.1 | 38.8 | 89.8 |
| Approve abortion if no more children wanted | 72.5 | 52.3 | 31 | 85 |
| Spend time with friends weekly | 60.1 | 60.3 | 61.9 | 66.5 |
| Spend time with people at sport, cultural or communal organization | 27.3 | 43.6 | 55.4 | 38.5 |
| Frequently discusses politics with friends | 24.9 | 7.4 | 12.9 | 19.4 |
| Belong to social welfare organization | 6.5 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 20.8 |
| Belong to human rights organization | 4.1 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 15 |
| Belong to environmental group | 13.1 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 11.3 |
| Would not like to have criminal neighbor | 30.6 | 39.4 | 47.4 | 33 |
| Would not like to have neighbor of different race | 7.4 | 12.4 | 15.6 | 2.5 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is heavy drinker | 36.1 | 51 | 40.4 | 33.2 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is Muslim | 16.3 | 19.3 | 17.2 | 9 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is immigrant | 10.6 | 13 | 16.5 | 2.8 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who has AIDS | 5.8 | 20.9 | 31 | 6.7 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is drug addict | 59.7 | 75.3 | 54.6 | 60.4 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is homosexual | 8 | 21.3 | 28.7 | 6.1 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is a Jew | 2.5 | 8.6 | 12.9 | 2.1 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is Gypsy | 15.3 | 44.3 | 55.6 | 19.9 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is Left-wing extremist | 9.2 | 13.3 | 28.2 | 23 |
| Would not like to have neighbor who is Right-wing extremist | 20.4 | 17.8 | 30 | 47.8 |
| Would not like to have large families as neighbors | 4.4 | 7.5 | 13.9 | 4.1 |
| Most people can be trusted | 66.5 | 58 | 32.6 | 66.3 |
| Strongly agree with increasing taxes to prevent pollution | 22.1 | 8 | 6.5 | 28.2 |
| Agree men should have jobs when they are scarce | 6.2 | 9.9 | 27 | 2.3 |
| Agree employers should give priority to natives over immigrants | 34.3 | 65.3 | 61.4 | 11.3 |
| Strongly agree that people should not have to work if they don’t want to | 2.3 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 2 |
| Agree that child needs home with father and mother | 66.9 | 60.4 | 92.4 | 60.1 |
| Approve of woman as single parent | 52.3 | 53.6 | 27.5 | 31.7 |
| Agree strongly that women want children and home | 3 | 9.6 | 17 | 9.1 |
| Disagree strongly that women want children and home | 27.2 | 8.9 | 3.3 | 27.3 |
| Agree marriage is outdated | 15 | 18 | 17 | 20.4 |
| Agree strongly that long-term relationship necessary to be happy | 15.1 | 8.7 | 20.1 | 11.7 |
| Faithfulness very important for successful marriage | 84.3 | 81.6 | 84.1 | 88.5 |
| Respect & appreciation very important for successful marriage | 84.7 | 85.7 | 90.2 | 93.9 |
| Religious beliefs very important for successful marriage | 12.7 | 15.3 | 23.4 | 12.9 |
| Agreement on politics very important for successful marriage | 1.7 | 4.2 | 7.2 | 5.9 |
| Understanding & tolerance very important for successful marriage | 79.3 | 69 | 81.4 | 87.2 |
| Children very important for successful marriage | 36 | 54.7 | 58.2 | 58.9 |
| Agree strongly that being a housewife just as fulfilling | 13.8 | 30.4 | 12.6 | 17 |
| Disagree strongly that being a housewife just as fulfilling | 9.8 | 2.4 | 7.7 | 14.1 |
| Eliminating very big income inequalities very important | 10.1 | 30.5 | 34.9 | 17.9 |
| Eliminating very big income inequalities not at all important | 23.8 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 7.3 |
| Guaranteeing basic needs for all very important | 48.3 | 68.6 | 70.4 | 71.3 |
| Guaranteeing basic needs for all not at all important | 5.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| More emphasis on technology in future good thing | 61.9 | 54.9 | 64.5 | 35.3 |
| More emphasis on the individual in future good thing | 93.3 | 89.7 | 92.4 | 89.7 |
| More emphasis on respect for authority in future good thing | 38.2 | 39.2 | 51.3 | 22.2 |
| More emphasis on family life in future good thing | 95.3 | 94.9 | 92.3 | 78.1 |
| The government should take more responsibility (10) | 1.3 | 3.1 | 12.2 | 1.8 |
| People should take more responsibility (0) | 11.4 | 11.7 | 8.6 | 14.7 |
| Competition is good (0) | 13.8 | 10.8 | 18.7 | 17.9 |
| Competition is harmful (10) | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.8 |
| State should control firms | 3.7 | 2.4 | 8.5 | 2 |
| Private sector should have freedom to run firms | 13.2 | 9 | 15.3 | 14.9 |
| A great deal of confidence in the United Nations | 9.2 | 5.2 | 18.2 | 14.2 |
| Emphasis on freedom over equality | 69.4 | 53.1 | 39.7 | 61.6 |
| Concerned with living conditions of immigrants | 4.3 | 3.3 | 6.6 | 7.1 |
| Prepared to help immigrants – Absolutely yes | 5.6 | 2.7 | 6 | 10.7 |
| Prepared to help sick & disabled – Absolutely yes | 19.4 | 15.4 | 19.1 | 28.2 |
| Prepared to help immediate family – Absolutely yes | 58.8 | 53 | 50.2 | 78.8 |
| Let anyone come (Open Borders) | 7.4 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 16.3 |
| Strict limits to immigration | 66.1 | 51.9 | 38.3 | 28.7 |
| Immigrants should maintain distinct customs & traditions | 23.4 | 32 | 59.7 | 36 |
| Religious person | 76.5 | 66.6 | 85.8 | 38.9 |
| Clear guidelines about what is good & evil | 10.4 | 29.3 | 26.4 | 15.8 |
| Attend religious services once a week | 2 | 3.2 | 30.3 | 3.3 |
| Believe in God – No | 31.1 | 17.5 | 6.5 | 46.6 |
| Believe in reincarnation – No | 82.7 | 81.6 | 82.2 | 78 |
| Do you believe lucky charm protects? – Definitely not | 65.4 | 60.4 | 68.6 | 61.5 |
| Baptism important? – Yes | 65.3 | 84.3 | 89 | 59.8 |
| Church wedding important? – Yes | 63 | 82.7 | 84.9 | 62.4 |
| Funeral with religious services important? – Yes | 79.9 | 89.8 | 89.4 | 77.6 |
| Politics who don’t believe in God unfit for office – Strongly Disagree | 60.3 | 22 | 15.3 | 47.5 |
| Cheating on taxes never justifiable | 65.6 | 52.9< /TD> | 56.6 | 50.7 |
| Accepting bribe never justifiable | 92.9 | 79.9 | 79.3 | 68.5 |
| Suicide never justifiable | 51.1 | 41.1 | 62.2 | 28.8 |
| Divorce never justifiable | 7 | 3.1 | 18.5 | 2.1 |
| Lying never justifiable | 60.7 | 40.3 | 50.7 | 41.4 |
| Adultery never justifiable | 67.1 | 52.5 | 50.7 | 50.5 |
| Throwing away litter never justifiable | 79.8 | 51.4 | 73.8 | 43.8 |
| Casual sex never justifiable | 46.3 | 33.8 | 48.5 | 26.6 |
| Very proud of nationality | 48 | 56.1 | 39.3 | 41.4 |
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