Diaper Smuggling

-
Diapers in Norway are cheap. They're about four times cheaper in Norway than in the United States. To give you an idea, I pay around 20 kroner for a pack of size 2 Pampers diapers - about $2.50 USD. I can also buy a large box of Pampers for around 60 kroner - $6.85.

When I travel abroad (even to Denmark or Sweden) with my youngest daughter I bring extra packages of diapers so I don't have to spend any extra.

Cheap diapers ensure new parents can afford them and babies have healthier skin on their little bottoms. Not only are diapers cheaper in Norway in comparison to the United States, but all throughout Europe. Which leads to diaper smuggling. Yes, that's right, diaper smuggling. Diaper smuggling is actually a thing. People actually come over to Norway to buy diapers and smuggle them back to their home country to sell and make a profit. Yes, it's illegal to not declare goods over 5000 Norwegian kroner and yes, people get caught crossing the boarder and fined for diapers.

Norway Today has posted an article concerning diaper smuggling on the black market here.

You can also see a Master's thesis in PDF format written about The Economics of Diaper Smuggling by Heidi Buø Åmot here.

Comments

fiberglass greenhouse panels said…
Wow, this is such an eye-opening post! I had no idea diapers could be such a hot commodity for smuggling. It's fascinating how something so basic for parents can turn into an underground market. Have you ever encountered anyone involved in this, or is it just a story you’ve come across? Thanks for sharing the links—definitely going to check them out!
December 13, 2024 at 1:03 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Expat Life

-
I've finally begun reading a book that has been in my reading list for a few years now; Norwegian By Night by Derek B. Miller. The author is actually an American man from Boston living in Oslo. Although it's a thriller, the expatriation of the main character is relatable. Sheldon Horowitz, a Marine, relocates to Oslo with his granddaughter, an American married to a Norwegian man. One particular quote, or paragraph rather, stood out to me, "Lars, being Lars, was overjoyed and encouraging and optimistic about her ability to adapt and join the pod. Norwegians, true to their nature, prefer to spawn in their own waters. Consequently Oslo is peopled by Norwegians married to a shadow population of displaced souls who all carry the look of tourists being led like children through the House of Wax." According to Wikipedia  16.8% of Norway's population is made up of immigrants. Granted this number also includes children born to immigrants regardless of being born in Norwa...
Read more

The Dyne

-
Image
Separate dyne!  On beds a dyne (duvet) is used and you purchase covers in many prints and different types of fabrics. These are a pain in the butt to put over the duvet, but we manage. Many people have a duvet for summer months and a duvet for winter months. Oh, and the most common thing is for each person to have their own duvet. Moving to Norway as a newlywed, I wanted to have one duvet that we shared on our bed thinking it would be extra cozy and we'd cuddle more. Newlyweds are hilariously idealistic though! This lasted only a few months before we surrendered with white flags in the war zone that was our sleeping quarters. Turns out, I'm quite territorial over the duvet. I hear a lot of women are like this. I freeze easier than my husband so I was often less comfortable than I wanted to be and he's a night owl who goes to bed later than I do which means every time he lifted the duvet, a gush of cold air would follow him waking me. We gave up with our idealism o...
Read more

Froot Loops

-
Image
Froot Loops! Who'd have thought so many Americans would be joyously celebrating Froot Loops' arrival to Norway like it's 1972? Yet here we are. Froot Loops have arrived in Norway. Our bland, unvaried  cereal aisle has become  slightly  more colorful. I say slightly because, well, the Froot Loops that have now ascended from cereal heaven to Norway are lacking some color. You know, artificial color! That good ole unhealthy stuff us Americans are so accustomed to eating. When I poured my first bowl of these Froot Loops, my first thought was  it looks like a comparison picture of how someone with colorblindness views Froot Loops.  My eldest daughter on the other hand exclaimed, "WOW! SO COLORFUL!" Same taste, just lacking some pigment. As it turns out, there are some ingredients which are allowed by the FDA, but are not allowed in foods in Europe.  Food dyes are one of those things, but if a product has certain dyes in it, they must have a warning la...
Read more