Letter: Tip from Scandinavia

Sir: You report a correlation between a country's mental health and its citizens' propensity to tip (Column One, 7 December). You suggest this is because only neurotic people feel a need to tip.

However, the regions such as Scandinavia that have the lowest rate of tipping are also those with a strong tradition of socialism. Perhaps in these countries people are sufficiently well paid that they don't need to be tipped?

That socialist policies help keep neurosis at bay is undoubtedly true - one look at the Conservative Party will convince you of that.

MARK BASSETT

New Malden, Surrey