Undisciplined Greeks: A threat to Nordic welfare?

The southern European debt crisis, caused by uncontrolled government spending and accounting tricks, could undermine the progressive social agenda of Europe's far north even though political leaders here are better at math. Germany, the EU bailer-in-chief, has lashed out at Greek excess, and now it's Scandinavia's turn. "Swedish taxpayers and other taxpayers should not have to pay so the Greeks can retire with a pension in their 40s,” said Anders Borg, the Swedish finance minister, as quoted by Svenska Dagbladet. Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian prime minister, added, “The welfare model we’ve known in Europe for several decades is under pressure because many countries can’t pay for it."