text: Alaska has a mere 720,000 residents.  Norway 5,000,000.  The city of Oslo has about the same population as the entire State of Alaska.  In Norway people pay nearly 50% in taxes after factoring in value added taxes, payroll taxes, wealth taxes, SS and healthcare taxes, local city, town, municipal taxes, tolls, fees.   But,  assuming Alaska magically had an economic and social system just like Norway.  Nirvanna in America.  Would 5 million people move here from the lower 48?  Can the current 400,000 people actually earning in Alaska pay 50% of their earnings to Alaska?  Would Alaskan families happily hand over their children to the State to raise? How many people would the welfare State of Alaska be able to afford? If you think Alaska is expensive now,  wait till everything is free.