NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is specifically reserved for the following information:

- A small, detailed factbook of the Union of Scandinavia
- Occiansional News happenings from around the nation on all topics
- Diplomatic Channel for all nations wishing to contact the Union of Scandinavia

Any other information is strictly discouraged and if possible, please keep all OCC comments to an absolute minimum. If you wish to speak to me OCC'ly, please to it through email (email address provided in profile information) or AIM (again provided in profile).

Thank you.

Map:

http://img454.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scandinavia9jz.png

Flag:

http://www.multimediapalace.com/fl/eu-flags-02/se-flags/se-jonkoping.gif

Social Information:

Population: 19,026,148 citizens

Ethnic Groups: Swedes and Finnish, Sami minorities, Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, and Turks

Religions:Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist

Languages: Swedish (official), Norwegian (official), Danish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Political Information:

Official Long Name: The United Kingdoms of Scandinavia

Official Short Name: Scandinavia

Seat of Power: Copenhagen

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State: King Frederick IX

Head of Government: Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg

Legislative Body: modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Judicial Body: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)[/SIZE]

Economic Information:

This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Scandinavia is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Scandinavia has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro; even so, the Krone remains pegged to the euro. Growth in 2004 was sluggish, yet above the scanty 0.3% of 2003. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Scandinavian people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

GDP (purchasing power parity): $613.1 Billion USD

GDP - real growth rate: 2.8%

GDP - per capita: $34,733 USD

Unemployment: 5.36%

Major Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing, machinery and equipment, raw materials and semi manufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods, iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments, processed foods, and motor vehicles

Inflation: 1.4%

Standard Currency: Krone (KR)

Exchange Rate: 1 KR = .45 USD