In the 21st century¡¯s toughest test yet of governing, the Nordics stand out.

After almost a year of the pandemic, the region¡¯s societal model has made it ¡°the most promising¡± in charting a sustainable path out of the crisis, according to the World Economic Forum. HSBC says that superiority is down to generous social safety nets and high digitization.

It¡¯s already clear that Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland have suffered a smaller economic setback during the COVID-19 crisis than the eurozone or the U.K.