Firstly, well done and full credit for both spotting and admitting a mistake!
Secondly, I'm always wary of comparing dissimilar cultures purely by earnings. The average Swede pays higher tax, but has no need for personal private health insurance, earnings insurance, CII and so on.
Lastly, I'm not actually a huge fan myself of Sweden's social model. I do think it caters too generously to the free-riders. I suppose it needs a social partnership, a mutual respect between person and state so that one will not exploit the other too much and I'm not convinced this is workable in the long-term. And it has all the myriad disadvantages of high-tax societies.
But it does have the advantage, that it removes much of the 'fear' from the life of most people: so if something goes wrong no fault of your own - maybe critical illness, or accident, or redundancy - you will be looked after and not bankrupted. And likewise the elderly will have paid high taxes thoughout their life, but then when they retire their basic needs will be provided, so although they may not be rich they will be freer from worry... hmm. There are attractions, and whether or not I agree with it I still accept it as a very civilised way of life. |
