MANIFESTO OF
THE DANISH COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL
Denmark is not just an economy generating growth nor just a state producing public welfare. Denmark is a society and we measure success in terms of societal progress.
Globally Denmark is often perceived as a paragon of progress due to our competitive business community, our prosperous economy and our universal welfare state. But we have a confession: our mode of competition is not durable. Our wealth is not sustainable. Our universal welfare state is not universalizable. As we say in business: Denmark does not scale. If all the planets inhabitants lived like a Dane, the planet would not be inhabitable. This cannot be progress.
In Denmark we understand societal progress to occur when societies make advances towards the realization of a good life for all. That is a life in a liberal democratic society with respect for human rights, environmental sustainability, social justice, equal opportunities, fair competition and peace. Specifically it is a life where every individual within a budget of no more than 190 kilos of CO2-emissions per month can afford at least these 7 essential goods and services:
Globalization, international competition and well-ordered market economies have for decades been a tremendous driver of wealth and welfare everywhere. Globally it has lifted billions out of poverty and raised living standards manifold. In Denmark it made our prosperous welfare state possible. As one of its main beneficiaries we remain firmly in favor of fair global competition.
But if we are to make progress we need to compete differently. Locally and globally. Neither Denmark nor any other society has fully realized our vision of a good life for all. In Denmark we are making headway, but still havea long way to go. As have societies everywhere. Yet every step forward shows that it is possible to do what is necessary. And in Denmark we strongly believe that a renewed if re-oriented global competition holds the promise and potential of reducing the price of the good life radically in the future, making it affordable for all while safeguarding the planet. But only if we all - society by society, business by business - alter our mode of competition towards the goal of societalprogress.
With this manifesto we declare: the Purpose of Denmark is to Prove Progress Possible. As society and business community we pledge to redirect our competitive efforts towards the goal of making the good life affordable for all - for Danes and everyone everywhere.
While we in Denmark as of yet have not realized a good life for all, we are among the societies closest to its achievement. We therefore consider ourself well-positioned to aid others in their advancement along the long arc of progress. Still the universalization of the good life will require the full force of human ingenuity, technological disruptions, grand societal transformations and global collaboration at a level unprecedented in History. Hence we call upon all our global stakeholders - consumers, companies, talents, investors, local communities and the global society: Let us prove progress possible - together. Let us embark on a new global competition.
WHY WITH DENMARK? BECUASE WE PROVE PROGRESS POSSSIBLE!
