The norm is an average, or a standard level.

CNN: To realize your potential, 'dare to be different'

Raising the age of consent to 18 has placed India among the more orthodox countries in a world where the norm and the global average is around 16 years.

BBC: Should India lower the age of consent?

Across the region average temperatures have been around two degrees higher than the seasonal norm, with temperatures in Austria reaching 18 degrees Celsius -- nearly 20 degrees higher than the monthly average.

CNN: Alpine resorts feel the heat

At State Farm, a car insurer, it has helped to persuade the company's agents to stay for an average of 13 years, double the industry norm.

ECONOMIST: One-and-a-half Nelson | The

According to Norm Miller of the University of San Diego, an average agent in Britain closes 40-50 deals a year, compared with just seven in America.

ECONOMIST: American property: The great realtor rip-off | The

But each has an average Facebook following of nearly 100, 000, more than 15 times the norm, according to the NSNB report.

ECONOMIST: Raising money online is harder than it sounds

One reply to my argument for a better social norm is that would-be voters who could be persuaded by such logic are likely above average in terms of how well informed they are.

FORBES: Sometimes Not Voting is the Most Virtuous Choice

Although that is only half the norm for American and European firms, it would be a useful symbolic step to improve the Japanese average of 9.5%.

ECONOMIST: Corporate governance in Japan