Yes Austria is actually a perfect example of a socialist government (so say our profs). There are good and bad parts about being in a socialist economy.
a. Education: well funded. There are no public schools. Only public catholic schools. If you are not catholic, then in the higher grades you can opt out of the catholic religion class and take a different religion class. Though I believe some sort of religion class is mandatory. They are still somewhat classical as they still teach Latin and Greek at the middle school age and higher. However, school is mandatory and so is the Austrian curriculum. The freedom to choose the education for your child and get funding for it is not available like in Canada. Though according to law the freedom should be there (not necessarily the funding) and this is being currently fought in the courts.
b. Health Care: well funded. State insurance (cost is 50 Euros/family of 6/month) (for us immigrants – probably cheaper for residents) covers hospital costs fees, surgeries, doctor visits, some dentistry and almost all your prescription costs. Prescriptions are needed for meds like tylenol and anti-histamines and all those over the counter drugs we are used to getting and paying for. Nice to have it paid for, a pain in the butt to get a prescription. We had wonderful service at the hospital. Tons of nurses and Benedict had a good 6 doctors collaborating on him. He got into MRI tests within a day. No long waiting lists for stuff like that. Plus, they keep people at the hospital until they are convinced recovery is well its way (this is really nice for ladies who just give birth so I’m told). Becca was given a bed and her and Kate were brought meals along with Benedict at the hospital. Kate’s meals were free (they were as big as Benedict’s). We had to pay to have Becca stay there unless you get private insurance. So we are getting private insurance at 22 euros/month and it’ll cover parents to stay at hospital and to have a nurse come to your home if you choose to receive health care at home and can. It’ll also cover us for the entire EU where ever we travel and whatever the expense. It is pretty all inclusive.
I’m an immigrant and not working so I’m not paying taxes. If I was, and I wasn’t a student, I could receive the child monies (450 euros/month/kid up the age of 18). Some of the profs here can live off of the money for their kids because they are good Catholic families with 7-9kids.
I hear taxes are high here, but I’ve no idea what percentage it is. They are so super picky about the environment. They discourage car driving and love it when you ride bikes. Every car has to have brand new winter tires every Nov. and your car has to be rigorously twice a year to be allowed on the road. I hear insurance is a high cost as well. You have to pay 60 euros a year to watch t.v. or listen to the radio or to have internet. This is mandatory state fee. Just about everything is recycled. All garbage has to be separated into wood, metal, plastic, styrofoam, white glass, dark glass, toxic, clothing, large items, tools/utensils/ect. and compost. These are all picked up and dealt with somewhere – I know yet where.
There are bike paths connecting most towns which makes it easy to get around. Once a year everyone puts their stuff they don’t want on walk in front of their houses and the poor people come and take all they want. I have yet to see a homeless person anywhere. I think they take of the poor pretty well here. There are always discounts for families and the kid price is usually up to the age of 14 or 16.
It is, as my prof said, as close to Catholic country as you’re going to get (except Malta).