Whole Lotta Ikea

Ikea ads can be quite smart and playful. Last time we went there the store was full of posters saying Kom deg hjem (loosely translated Go Home; are we supposed to turn around and go home once we get to Ikea?)

The newest campaign for beds encourages Norwegians to proliferate with a variety of cheeky slogans, including

Never more a small country in the world – poignantly expressing the Norwegian desire to be an “important” country in the world

Take responsibility for your pension, create more taxpayers – tapping into the real problem of a bloated welfare state unsupportable by the next generation

Tired of never getting a plumber when you need one? – jokingly noting the serious labor shortage in the hyper-expanding Norwegian economy.

and finally the catch-all

Population growth starts in the bedroom! – Yes, but despite the generous leaves and child benefits offered to parents the native growth rate in Norway like most of western Europe is stagnant if not negative. Just like the beds Ikea sells, population growth is more likely to come from low-cost countries abroad.