Norway’s Brilliant Idea

When one follows  American  politics too closely, one comes to think that the world is doomed, that we are within a cybercentimeter of a microcontrolled fascist dystopia, that planetary strangulation under a mountain of poisonous gunk is imminent, that there  is no hope for the future of the human race.

Fortunately for the world, most of it is not America.  Switzerland is considering a move to give all of its residents 2,500 francs a month,  which is not chump change, even in Switzerland,  Uruguay is totally legalizing  pot (although, credit where it’s due, Colorado and Washington have legalized the sacred herb, but there are still 48 other states where they will lock your ass into a cold, gray cage and keep you there for a significant percentage of your ruined life just for a bit of unauthorized partying) and Norway….well, wow.

A Land With a Brilliant Future

Norway is offering free college tuition, not just to it’s own people, but to anybody in the world.  If I was a bit younger and still single, I’d probably be heading to Norway right now.

How can they afford it?  Well, we’ll see, but I think this is an  investment that’s going to pay off for Norway.

First, the  offer is for tuition, they aren’t offering to pay everybody’s living expenses.  So, those who come will be pumping  money into the Norwegian economy instead of taking it out.  But, they’re offering some financial aid to those from poor countries, so that might be canceled out.

Mostly, though, I think it  will pay off for Norway like this: say they get 10 million college students a year, which would be a huge influx in  a country the size of Norway.  Let’s say 1% of those students are genius types whose work in the labs leads to major innovations in computer and communications gadgetry, those innovations will take place in Norway first.

Let’s say  1% of those   (I’m just spitballing  with this 10 million figure – you could use 1 million or 100 million, the logic would be the same, even though the numbers would be different.  They said everybody, they  didn’t say spaces were limited,  but there’s an upper limit to what they can take.  China could send  them 100 million students, way beyond the Norwegian population or the  ability of its infrastructure) form tight bonds with Norway, fall in love with the country or just one  of its people, and stay.  Norway gets an intelligent, well educated, and deeply loyal work force of 100,000 people, with diverse  backgrounds from all over the world.  Again, advantage Norway.

Most of those students will go back to their home countries, but there they will be good will ambassadors, and they will frequently  return for vacations.

I predict that, however much money Norway is spending on this project, they will profit magnificently in the end.