[webbore]

I live in Calgary, Alberta which is pretty much the exact counterpoint to Norway with a very similar historical starting point (size, population, dynamics). It doesn't matter who's in power, all our governments spend like drunken sailors on shore-leave, no sales tax to even out the boom/bust (and counter low-ish taxes), A savings fund that is now empty going into an incredibly rough period.

I'm not says one is better than the other - Norway looks great right now, but didn't when I visited ~10 years ago and my Subway "value" meal cost over $25 CDN - just an interesting counterpoint.

I keep waiting for that manufacturing "bump" from Eastern Canada we were promised from a sinking dollar...

[digi_owl]

> I'm not says one is better than the other - Norway looks great right now, but didn't when I visited ~10 years ago and my Subway "value" meal cost over $25 CDN - just an interesting counterpoint.

Careful with such examples. Local prices are first of all adjusted for local wages, and second of all the NOK exchange rate is just nasty.

[refurb]

Alberta did spend most of the their oil money. Based on a Google search, it looks like the Heritage Trust Fund maxed out at ~$20B for a population of ~2.5M. So maybe 1/20th of what Norway has put away on a per capita basis?

[Vinkekatten]

Not sure if relevant, but in Oslo today a half-foot sub-of-the-day with no drinks runs you $5.50 canadian. A big mac with a menu is $14.50