One thing that would interest me: How did gender equality become so advanced in Scandinavia even compared to other Western democracies? Same general societal structure that focuses on equal rights for all...or something more specific?
I won't search for quotations, but most authors I've read related It with late christianization/early protestantism.
Being zealous with things, instead of being self-fulfilled with your own accomplishments helps. And all the Finns I've met (well, all them two...) fitted in the the rare category of people who care most for the results of what they were doing than with the glories of having it done.
On the educational level, I think everyone had the right perception: they pay well, very well their teachers, give them infrastructure and stimulates them to improve they're knowledge. Exactly the opposite of what everyone's doing.
