Iceland is the first country in the world as regards the quality of life, especially for women. Thus, it is interesting to understand the reasons lying behind such a social development. On this purpose, we would like to outline the economy of a country whose unemployment rate constantly drops (6.7%) and which, in spite of an increasingly severe crisis and the growth of budget cuts throughout Europe, registers a growth rate of 2.3% and has a stable financial system after 2008 banking collapse.
Icelandic political system benefits from renewed legitimacy and credibility thanks to a people’s constitutional reform. Citizens, indeed, actively participated in the revision and rewriting of their constitution. In November 2010, 25 citizens became members of a commission whose aim was to monitor the new constitutional process. The board’s proceedings were followed in real-time on Facebook. In 2011, thanks to the involvement of social networks, thousands of citizens had the possibility to directly express their opinion and make their own suggestions. People’s attention focused mainly on two topics; the first one concerns the freedom of speech and the right to access the Internet, while the second one concerns environmental resources.
Icelandic revolution stems from a popular protest movement launched on October 11, 2008 by singer Hörður Torfason, founder of the first movement for gay rights in Iceland. It was boosted by the Internet and culminated in the occupation of the Austurvöllur square in Reykjavik. Protests lasted 14 weeks and led to the dissolution of Parliament and to the calling of new elections won by a coalition formed by the Socialist Party and the Left-Green Movement and headed by Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Sigurðardóttir is the first Icelandic woman Prime Minister and the world’s first openly gay Prime Minister.
That represented the beginning of Icelandic economic revival. The three main banks of the country (Landbanki, Kapthing and Glitnir) were made national and reorganised. Government protected citizens’ savings. The devaluation of the Icelandic króna by 40% limited imports and positively influenced the exports of aluminium and fishery products. The Government decided not to recapitalise banks through public money and adopted austerity measures that contributed to controlling social expenditure. Iceland’s whole economy was reorganised and it is now acquiring real proportions, in a country with a surface area of 103’000 squared kilometres and around 320’000 inhabitants. People have a job and their savings are safe, they pay less for their houses and do not get into debt because nobody lends them money.
Iceland is the proof that a popular democracy where citizens can directly provide their personal contribution, regardless of their social status, ideologies, nature or sex, is not an illusion. By carefully reading 2011 Global Gender Gap Report, it emerges that many have lot to learn from this small, magic reality.
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