Scandinavia

== Economy ==
{{see also|Economy of Sweden|Economy of Denmark|Economy of Finland|Economy of Iceland|Economy of Norway}}
The economies of the countries of Scandinavia are amongst the strongest in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/countries-by-gdp/#europeCountries|title=GDP Ranked by Country 2020|website=worldpopulationreview.com|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=27 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127105030/http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/countries-by-gdp/#europeCountries|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a [[Nordic model|generous welfare system]] in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/100714/nordic-model-pros-and-cons.asp|title=The Nordic Model: Pros and Cons|last=McWhinney|first=James|website=Investopedia|language=en|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512154719/https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/100714/nordic-model-pros-and-cons.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
Various promotional agencies of the Nordic countries such as the [[Norwegian Trekking Association]], the [[Swedish Tourist Association]], and in the United States ([[The American-Scandinavian Foundation]] established in 1910 by the [[Danish Americans|Danish American]] industrialist Niels Poulsen) serve to promote market and tourism interests in the region. Today, the five Nordic heads of state act as the organization's patrons and according to the official statement by the organization its mission is "to promote the Nordic region as a whole while increasing the visibility of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in New York City and the United States".<ref>[http://www.amscan.org/about.html About The American-Scandinavian Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029052921/http://www.amscan.org/about.html |date=29 October 2015 }}. Official site. Retrieved 2 February 2007.</ref> The official tourist boards of Scandinavia sometimes cooperate under one umbrella, such as the [[Scandinavian Tourist Board]].<ref>[http://www.visitscandinavia.or.jp/en/scandinavia/general_information.aspx Scandinavian Tourist Board]. Official site. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117090528/http://www.visitscandinavia.or.jp/en/scandinavia/general_information.aspx|date=17 January 2008}}</ref> The cooperation was introduced for the Asian market in 1986, when the Swedish national tourist board joined the Danish national tourist board to coordinate intergovernmental promotion of the two countries. Norway's government entered one year later. All five Nordic governments participate in the joint promotional efforts in the United States through the Scandinavian Tourist Board of North America.<ref>[http://www.goscandinavia.com/ The Scandinavian Tourist Board of North America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604225711/http://goscandinavia.com/ |date=4 June 2013 }}. Official Website. Retrieved 2 February 2007.</ref>