Re 2: salaries are very seldom too low. Think of waiters cleaners etc. they have pretty decent salaries. At least in Sweden where I live. This is the effect of unions being strong, a general culture that values work and workers, and historical and political context. Also scarcity plays a role, there are few people and many professions are hard to find.

Having said that, it's no socialist Heaven either, wealth inequality is among the highest in developed countries and unemployment is very high especially among the young people with immigrant background. Racism, or a certain suspicion of strangers, is latent and affects access to jobs. Inflation is high, housing market is as crazy as elsewhere, and living costs are not low.