Sure, it's not like an individual citizen could go to his bank and withdraw the funds, but it's a national wealth and is being expressed as an amount per person.
It's the same with your $200k debt per US citizen number. The Norwegian government just happens to have $160k in an investment fund per citizen.
I'm not sure what the overall budget for Norway looks like, but I'd guess it's a bit better than the US budget.
"the structural non-oil budget deficit is estimated at NOK 135.1 billion [...] Net cash flow from petroleum activities is estimated at NOK 314 billion. [...] The consolidated surplus on the Fiscal Budget and the Government Pension Fund, including NOK 147 billion in interest and dividends, is estimated at NOK 328 billion (corresponding to 10.6 of GDP)"
I guess a percent sign is missing there. That would make the surplus 10.6% of GDP.
Just for reference (these aren't exact, but close enough):
2013 Norway Govt expenditures: $182 billion, per person: $36,000
2013 US Govt expenditures: $3.93 trillion, per person: $13,000 ($22,000 counting local + state; I have no idea how Norway's government spending looks locally)
> It's the same with your $200k debt per US citizen number.
Not really: in a progressive system, one's share of that debt when net worth is considered is probably more like $20k, thanks to wealth disparity. And again, given equitable spending per citizen (regardless of taxes paid), they really do have about $160k per citizen in that investment fund.
I'm curious what you're getting at with 'progressive system' statement.
I was just pointing out the absolute division of the numbers for both seem like a similar, if ultimately meaningless, metric.
I won't profess to be an economist and/or understand the intricate differences between the US and NO government taxing/budgeting/accounting, so any enlightenment is welcome.
It's the same with your $200k debt per US citizen number. The Norwegian government just happens to have $160k in an investment fund per citizen.
I'm not sure what the overall budget for Norway looks like, but I'd guess it's a bit better than the US budget.