Text | Pure and pure
Edit | Pure and pure
Have you ever wondered how small a country can be? So small as just one street? So small that you can drive a cigarette to cross? And such a small country, but it has amazing wealth, and the per capita GDP is even as high as 3 times that of United States! It is the protagonist we are going to talk about today - Liechtenstein, a "rich pocket country" hidden in the heart of Europe
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Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is a pearl left in the Alps, exuding a low-key and luxurious glow, a country of only 160 square kilometers, not even as large as a county town in China, with a population of less than 40,000, equivalent to a slightly larger township in China
The history of Liechtenstein can be traced back to the Holy Roman Empire, when in 1719 the Liechtenstein family purchased two territories, Vaduz and Schellenberg, and merged them, giving birth to the Liechtenstein Duchy, a small landlocked country that has Liechtenstein been war-torn in its history, but has honed its tenacity in character
After World War II, Liechtenstein also faced economic difficulties, but with their unique "way of making money", they successfully counterattacked and became one of the richest countries in the world.
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The answer lies in Liechtenstein's two pillar industries: stamps and finance
Stamps, this seemingly "antique" thing, but Liechtenstein's "golden signboard", the country's issued stamps for its exquisite design, unique theme and limited edition are famous all over the world, attracting the attention of countless philatelic enthusiasts around the world, from the Olympic Games to the development of science and technology, from works of art to the Chinese zodiac, Liechtenstein's stamp theme keeps up with the trend of the times, each piece is a work of art, and therefore has a high collection value, bringing rich income to the country
In addition to stamps, the financial industry is also another major economic pillar of Liechtenstein, with low tax rates and loose financial policies, Liechtenstein has attracted many multinational companies and wealthy people to register companies and manage assets, becoming a world-renowned "tax haven", according to statistics, the number of companies registered in Liechtenstein is twice its population, that is, the average person has two companies!
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Liechtenstein's "way to make money" doesn't stop there, and you might not think that the country also has an unexpected "specialty" - dentures
Due to the special soil composition of the region, Liechtenstein's dental materials and denture manufacturing technology are world-leading, and even known as the "denture kingdom", it is said that the dentures produced here are enough to meet the needs of one-third of the world's population, and the products are rich, from the common white, yellowish to brown, and even the "black teeth" to meet the needs of African tribes, which can be described as a wonder of the "tooth" world
In addition to its economic prosperity, Liechtenstein is also politically unique, and as a permanently neutral country, Liechtenstein pursues a peaceful foreign policy and does not participate in any military alliances, which makes it one of the safest countries in the world
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What's more interesting is that Liechtenstein's government structure is also quite "mini", with only five government members in the country, and three people other than the prime minister and deputy prime minister wear many hats and are responsible for managing the country's affairs, while the government office is a three-story small building that integrates the government, courts, and prisons
If you think Liechtenstein is all there is to it, you are wrong, this tiny country is also blessed with stunning natural beauty
Surrounded by the Alps, Liechtenstein has picturesque landscapes and is a paradise for skiers in winter. In summer, the grass is green and the flowers are in full bloom, making it a resort for summer recreation
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Stroll through the capital city of Vaduz, a city surrounded by mountains and rivers, which exudes tranquility and tranquility, and Vaduz Castle, the old royal palace, although not open to the public, stands on the top of a hill overlooking the city and has become the most iconic building in Liechtenstein
Mitteldorf Street, on the other hand, is the busiest shopping street in Vaduz, with buildings lining the streets that retain the style of a hundred years ago, and strolling through it is like traveling back to medieval Europe
If you want to experience the feeling of a "king", Liechtenstein also has a "strange" operation - state rental
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You heard it right, it's renting out the whole country! For $70,000 a day, you can "rent" the country, get a symbolic key, take a royal carriage tour surrounded by the royal guard of honour, and stay in the palace at night and enjoy a royal feast, to experience this "royal treatment", you need to book at least half a year in advance
How, hearing this, are you full of curiosity about this "pocket" and "rich" country?
Perhaps, we can find the secret to Liechtenstein's wealth in its unique geographical location and historical trajectory
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Located in the heart of Europe, Liechtenstein has been a battleground for soldiers since ancient times, and frequent wars have not brought the country to decline, but inspired them to seek survival and development
In 1866, Liechtenstein became involved in the Austro-Prussian War and sent 80 soldiers to support Austria, and surprisingly, after the war, instead of reducing the number of troops, the team had one more! It turned out that they "picked up" an Italy soldier on the battlefield
This war also became the last war in the history of Liechtenstein, and since then, they have declared permanent neutrality, no longer involved in any international disputes, and devoted all their energy to economic development and people's livelihood
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This proved to be a wise decision, away from the smoke of war, and Liechtenstein gained a valuable environment for peaceful development and laid the foundation for its future economic take-off
And its "pocket-sized" land area has also become a unique advantage in economic development
Just imagine how easy it is to manage a country so small that it can be "at a glance"! Without complex administrative processes and lengthy decision-making chains, governments can efficiently formulate and implement policies to provide quality services to businesses and citizens
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The social structure of the small country and the widow also makes Liechtenstein very safe, where you can hardly see crime, people live and work in peace and happiness
Liechtenstein's prosperity is also inseparable from the industriousness and innovative spirit of its people
They have turned stamps into national business cards, constantly innovating and attracting the attention of collectors around the world; They take advantage of low tax rates and financial policies to attract foreign investment and develop the economy; They even made dentures a world-famous "specialty" and created an economic miracle
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It can be said that the success of Liechtenstein is the perfect combination of time, place, and people
Today, Liechtenstein has long since shed the label of "Europe's poorest country" and has become synonymous with global wealth
Here, you can feel the magnificent scenery of the Alps, you can experience the quiet life of a small European town, and you can feel the unique charm of a "pocket country".
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Perhaps, you can also consider renting this country and experiencing what it is like to be a "king"?
Jokes aside, the story of Liechtenstein also brings us a lot of inspiration
A small country can also have big dreams; Resource scarcity can also create an economic miracle
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As long as we find the right positioning, give full play to our advantages, and have the courage to innovate, even small countries can shine brightly on the world stage
What do you think of Liechtenstein's "rich code"? Feel free to leave a message in the comment area and share your views!