GS6.U4.NWToday.D11.CW PDF - Northwestern Europe Today

Name: __________________________________ Class: 6.___ 12/6/2024 Friday 1 4....

Name: __________________________________ Class: 6.___ 12/6/2024 Friday 1 4.5.B Northwestern Europe Today Lesson Objective: Evaluate Scandinavia’s cradle-to-grave system, and describe its economy and how geography affects the economy. Do Now: Read the introduction to Scandinavian countries and the Economic Systems chart, then answer the question. The Scandinavian Countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden make up the area known as Scandinavia. This region extends all the way north to the Arctic Circle. Government involvement in the economy varies greatly between Sweden and the United States. Why are taxes so high in Sweden? Governments and Economies Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are constitutional monarchies much like the United Kingdom. Each monarch is mainly a symbolic leader. Political decisions are made by an elected parliament. Finland is a democratic republic with a president. All are members of the EU except Norway. Norway has voted to remain outside the EU for several reasons. Some Norwegians feel that the EU’s structure is not democratic. They also want to keep Norway’s economic and political freedom. Economies in Scandinavia are closer to a socialist economic system than the United States, which has a free enterprise economy. In a socialist economy, governments make more economic decisions than in a free enterprise economy, but fewer than in a communist economy. ★The Scandinavian governments have a cradle-to-grave system, a system of basic services for citizens at every stage of life. It covers healthcare, education, and retirement. The distribution of benefit services are organized and funded through taxes. Because people believe this system is important, they are willing to pay high taxes for it. In Sweden, people pay on average almost 60 percent of their income in taxes. Clothing and food are also expensive due to taxes. On the other hand, healthcare costs and rents are low.★ Finnish schools are some of the best in the world. This Finnish classroom includes a Sami student wearing a traditional hat. The Sami are an ethnic group that lives in northern Finland. 1. ★Why do you think people in the Scandinavian countries are willing to pay high taxes to support the cradle-to-grave system?★  2 Fish, Forests, and Phones In the past, the Scandinavian countries depended on agricultural industries, which are industries that are based on growing plants or raising animals for food. Raising cattle for milk or cheese is an example of an agricultural industry. Agriculture and dairy farming are still important in Denmark, where the climate is warmer. Farms in Scandinavia may sell their products to large companies that distribute to grocery stores. Those larger companies, which sell goods to stores in large quantities, are part of the wholesale industry. Grocery stores, in turn, are an example of a retail industry. This means they sell directly to customers. Today, the economies of these countries rely on multinational corporations, high-technology industries, and exports. Finland, for example, is a leading producer of mobile telephones. This is an example of a manufacturing industry that produces goods. 2. What industries did Scandinavian countries rely on in the past, and how have their economies changed in recent years? This headquarters of an online bank in Copenhagen, Denmark, has an award-winning design. Scandinavia’s geography and natural resources also influence its economy. Miles of coastline and acres of forests supply the fishing and lumber industries. Oil production in the North Sea also helps this region maintain a high standard of living. Membership in the EU opens Denmark, Finland, and Sweden to free trade and global markets. Located near the Arctic Circle, the northernmost Scandinavian cities have what are called white nights. From May to July, the sun appears on the horizon for almost 24 hours a day. This is because the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun at that time of year. Denmark is a small country, about twice the size of the state of Massachusetts. But Greenland is a territory of Denmark. Greenland, located off the coast of North America, is the world's largest island. It is about three times the size of the state of Texas. Most of Greenland is located north of the Arctic Circle. It is largely covered by ice and has a small population. Its economy depends on fishing, and the Danish government provides economic help. Ongoing oil exploration in Greenland may lead to discoveries that change its economy. 3. Explain how geography and natural resources influence the economies of Scandinavia, citing specific examples from the text. 4. What do you think would happen to energy costs if oil production in the North Sea dried up? How would Scandinavian countries make up for the resulting resource scarcity? Exit Ticket on Google Classroom Friday 12/6 Exit Ticket