Our money
🏛️ Government plans major cut to state bureaucracy. By 2030, administrative spending across the government is set to drop by at least 5.5 billion DKK. Ministries must find savings through digital tools, fewer tasks, and more efficient operations. They can’t touch defense, justice, or emergency services. A new AI task force is part of the plan, but unions warn that vague targets without clear priorities could backfire. Business groups want even deeper cuts.
🏦 Banking fees still a mystery for many. A new study from Forbrugerrådet Tænk shows that the annual cost of banking can differ by as much as 50,000 DKK, depending on the bank and customer type. The problem? Fees are nearly impossible to compare, hidden across countless documents and formats. While the industry says most people don’t have complex banking needs, consumer advocates argue that even professionals struggle to decode the costs.
🏘️ Government launches full review of municipal funding system. The government has kicked off a major analysis of the municipal grants and equalization system, which redistributes around 25 billion DKK yearly to ensure fair public services across the country. The goal is to update the system to reflect today’s needs and realities, ensuring fairness while encouraging efficient local governance. The final report is due in 2027, paving the way for new rules starting in 2029 to keep the welfare system balanced nationwide.
State of the markets
🧠 Stress rising, especially among the young. Nearly one in five employees feels stressed, and over half blame their job. The trend is growing, especially among 25- to 34-year-olds, with women more affected than men. The government says stress is no longer just a personal issue; it’s a societal one. At the same time, more seniors choose to keep working past retirement age, but many still face age discrimination when looking for jobs, highlighting a growing divide in the labor market.
Read our article: Navigating mental health supports as an international
🚨 Fraud found in every kiosk during major inspection. All 23 kiosks inspected in a surprise raid across Copenhagen were caught breaking the law. Authorities found thousands of illegal nicotine products, untaxed alcohol, food with banned additives, counterfeit goods, untraceable sweets, and large sums of hidden cash. Three people working in kiosks were also receiving public benefits. The raid is part of a broader crackdown, and so far this year only two out of 69 kiosks inspected have been free of violations.
📱 Simple design tweaks could help youth break social media’s grip. A new study from Denmark’s consumer authority shows that small design changes in how apps function can significantly reduce young people’s time on social media. Many teens check their phones hourly during school, and some spend up to 20% of class time scrolling. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are deliberately built to keep users hooked, harming mental health and sleep.
Read our article: How one school banished phones and transformed students’ learning and wellbeing
