50 Small Yet Genius Things Some Countries Do That The Rest Of The World Needs Immediately

To learn more about this topic, we got in touch with world traveler King Siu of Travel, Eat, Drink. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and reveal some of the best things he's noticed countries providing for their residents along his travels.

"I feel most people know that college is free, or almost free in Europe. But what I was surprised to find out from some Norwegian friends was that they received an allowance from the government while they were studying!" King shared. "And this wasn't just a few bucks to help with groceries, this was enough for them to get an apartment and live."

"I'm sure Norway isn't the only country to do this, but boy did I want to be Norwegian when I found that out," the traveler continued. "It would definitely be nice for all students to be able to concentrate on their studies and not have the distraction of how one is going to pay for it."

King noted that, as a Canadian, universal healthcare was just something he grew up with. But he really began to appreciate it after spending time in countries that didn't have it. "In particular, the United States," he says. "How does the richest country in the world, who actually spends more per capita on healthcare than Canada, not provide basic medical care to all of its citizens? I don't think any Canadian will ever understand that."

"Even my friends who have incredible health insurance in the U.S. tell me that they never leave a doctor's office without paying something," King continued. "But, the reality really hits when I see the never-ending GoFundMe campaigns to help someone who is battling a serious illness. One should not have to worry about going bankrupt from medical bills when they are fighting cancer."

"The Canadian healthcare system is far from perfect, but I like that I never have to think twice about going to see a doctor if I feel sick," he added. "I am amused that an American would be shocked if they weren't handed a bill at the end of their medical appointment, and a Canadian would be shocked if they received one."

"On a lighter note, you may have heard about some countries that offer money for couples to have children," King shared. "But in Busan, South Korea, they are going right to the beginning and are offering cash incentives for couples to date, and the further along their relationship gets, the more money they receive."

"I guess it's like a game show, so it's probably just a matter of time before Mr. Beast starts doing a version of Beast Games for relationships," the travel expert says. "On top of the money they will receive for finally getting married, the government also provides money for a down payment on a house or rent for five years. Korea has a really low birthrate, so this is just one of the creative ways to get the country's mojo going again. I believe they're opening this program up to foreigners soon, so start packing your bags if you've always dreamed of living out your own K-Drama."

King has also observed that, generally, Scandinavian countries take care of their citizens the best overall. "Yes, they also pay really high taxes for these privileges, but every survey about happiness always has their citizens in the top 10 in the world, so there's that," he shared.

"It's not just that they provide things for their citizens, but the services provided make sense. For example, if you want people to have babies, taking the medical expenses out is a good first step, and money to help with the additional expenses of having a child are another," King explained. "Providing parental leave makes sense as a newborn is a lot of work, (leave is typically super generous in Scandinavia too, like over a year generous) and of course, someone has to look after the kid, so affordable childcare is also available."

Next, we asked King which benefits other countries have that he'd like to see Canada implement. "The living allowance for college students that they do in Norway would be a great thing to see in Canada, and the relationship subsidy in South Korea would be interesting to see implemented in Canada since we also face a declining birthrate," he told Bored Panda. "And the skyrocketing real estate costs have made home ownership impossible for many."

"In France, one can get prescribed spa treatments to deal with various ailments from stress to post breast cancer recovery," King says. "The stay at the spa would last 18 days and is fully or partially paid for by the government depending on income level. I could really support the Canadian government adding this to our healthcare plan."

"I had always heard from my French friends that their healthcare system was the envy of Europe. That's saying something on a continent full of countries with universal healthcare, but now I understand why theirs stands out from the pack," he added.

As for why it's so important for countries to take good care of their citizens, the travel expert shared, "A country thrives when its citizens are happy, plain and simple. I'm not saying that they all wake up every morning full of sunshine and unicorns, but the fewer basic necessities that one has to worry about the better your quality of life, and the less angry one is at the government."

"Most who go into public office have a desire to help people, so making their citizens' lives easier should be their top priority," King added. "However, it can also support their other top priority of winning reelection, which I'm sure can motivate every politician regardless of their reason for entering politics."

"Some see social services as a waste of government money. To those people, I challenge them to view the money spent as not an expense, but as an investment," King told Bored Panda. "Every kid who comes into the world via a government program to encourage relationships, and who can afford to go to college, will ultimately pay more into the system than they take out. And, who knows, they may just start a multi-billion dollar company out of their bedroom because they had time to be creative and didn't have to spend all their time worrying."