Norway is the 13th largest oil producer in the world. But gas is ~2 USD/liter here vs 1.5 USD in Sweden. Modern Europe is the greatest at snatching scarcity from the jaws of abundance.

Norway's SWF has $1.7 t in assets. That's over $300k for every man woman and child. But Oslo, a city of 700k people, has a $3 congestion charge for entering the city with a car. Take public transportation? Ok. A 24hr ticket from a place you don't need to pay to park is $30. 👏

Staying at a hotel 50km from the city center. Land everywhere. Is parking free, I ask the receptionist. "This is Norway. Nothing is free."

This country is filthy rich! They don't even realize how much better they could have it. You might say it's a choice. But I doubt it. It's just scarcity mindset the whole way. @CJHandmer I thought of you.