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Danes 

In addition to some useful business in Copenhagen last week, I saw two wonderful examples of the Danish accumulation of social capital.

First, I was wandering around the city centre when I passed a bakery. Inside was a woman buying her bread, while outside on the pavement was a baby buggy with a happily sleeping infant. In the United States, this would be grounds for arrest on charges of child abandonment. In Britain, it would certainly elicit meaningful tut-tuts from passers-by. No one I mentioned it to in Copenhagen thought it worth comment.

Second, in the small park across the street from my hotel were a number of bicycles. Nothing unusual in a city where more people cycle than drive. But these were publicly available bikes, for the use of anyone who had 20 kroner to put in the slot. You are trusted to bring the bike back. Very civilised.

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