The spirit that created a nation of great Danes

Hand it to the Danes - they have a decent football team and the right attitude to life. Rated the #1 happiest nation, this Nordic territory is big on 'Janteloven' - a communal spirit, with an aversion to material boasting.

While taxes are among the highest in the world, a state that guarantees a social safety net has bred an entrepreneurial spirit where fear of financial failure doesn't halt innovation.

"We are not paying taxes," says Meik Wiking, head of the Happiness Research Institute. "We are investing in our society, we are purchasing quality of life." Hard to argue with that.

Irish Independent