The study of how Sweden grew from poverty to one of the richest nations in the world can be contrasted with how Argentina fell from one of the richest countries in the world to where they are today.
Exactly, I’m from Argentina and its mind blowing the amount of destruction populist and socialist governments created. But the people here want more socialism, they say its not enough. You can see by yourselves the indoctrination that is taking place on public schools and universities. We truly are in a state of emergency.
And this video and organization is sponsored by the Koch Brothers and other megabillionaire oligarchs... if you're not rich, then why the fuck do you believe their lies?
Hard times make hard-ons weaker, occasional-kotex wouldn't know the difference, so stiffies come back in vogue, strong women know the difference:good times return.
What I learned from the video is that such a model would never work in the US. Swedes are very eastern in their philosophy. They understand that you have to cooperate and be productive individuals for the company to succeed so that you can in turn succeed...a lot like Japan. The western philosophy is that you should be as lazy as possible and at the same time make as much money as possible. That's why labor unions in the US are just purely toxic.
First and foremost, the cake is based. Secondly, a lot more hands than the entrepreneur went into baking that cake... public infrastructure, government policies, labor, etc
@@jobroadcommunityimpact6494 But the entrepreneur takes the sole risk by purchasing the equipment, the ingredients, committing to a commercial lease or investing in the purchase of a location, paying for advertising, paying for insurance (liability and loss through fire or some other damage), and the myriad other items it takes to open and successfully maintain a business. All that before they even open their doors for business, all in hopes that the cake (or widget) he or she makes is good enough the public will continue to purchase their wares to keep them in business. If the business fails, the entrepreneur is on the hook for all the investment made resulting in possible bankruptcy or lingering debt. The employee simply loses that job and is tasked with finding another. Very little, if any, risk to them.
"A Scandinavian economist once said to Milton Friedman, ‘In Scandinavia, we have no poverty’. Milton Friedman replied, ‘That’s interesting, because in America, among Scandinavians, we have no poverty, either’."
My God It is my mother sitting on the big staircase outside on one of the step smoking (at 27:58) in early 70´s visiting Stockholm, I was so chocked and surprised to see her since she past on at only age 60 in 2002. That is so awesome, she would have loved it to be in a documentary about this matter, since she and my dad had a family accounting /law firm. My dad (that has also past away in June 1983) was so upset in the beginning of the 80´s due to the tax increase, because he could only hire my older sister to work in the family firm since the taxes for the employer fee was to huge for him to give me a job in our family owned business :( So I went to America to work instead after college at age 18.
That was an awesome documentary. I'm from Brazil and we have a lot to learn with Sweden. We are learn, but we still have a long road ahead. In Brazil I also hear lots of people saying that we should be socialist like Sweden. "Socialist economy" doesn"'t exist, because there is no calculation of prices. I loved Anders Chydenius story.
Bernie Sanders politics would result in a Venezuela rather than a Sweden. Very good points on the topic here: onarchy.liberty.me/bernie-sanders-is-not-a-scandinavian-style-socialist/
Thanks for the wonderful video Johan. As for bernie sanders: There are only two options. 1) He absolutely doesn't know. 2) Or, he is deceitful (for whatever motive i.e., power, greed, stupidity, etc.). Regardless, most bernie supporters don't realize bernie speaks out of his backside, which is common among "progressives" (left-wing & right-wing). Sad but true.
@@bastrixer You don't automatically get rich just because you have a small business in Sweden. You get rich if you have an amazing idea. Small business owners like to pretend like they are the backbone of our economy and should get all the free stuffs. That's BS. You have a job, and should contribute to society just like everyone else. And if you come up with the next Spotify idea, then yeah, you're gonna have well earned success. But don't cry me a small business owner river .
Imagine having a whole documentary telling you how a country went from being poor to rich through a free market economy and still believing that big government is the solution to all your problems 😂
What an excellent documentary! I was shocked by many jaw-dropping facts about how positive and experimental Sweden has become: NO minimum wage law! Taxation is regressive! Socialized medicine is provided by private competing services! National education is provided by private competing services! Politics is removed from the pension system by automatically increasing or decreasing benefits based on the success of the overall economy! What I admire most is how Sweden's vast experience has led to a more consensus-driven society that fosters freedom, innovation, and competition. We in the U.S. have a lot to learn from Sweden!
If pensioms were based on increasing or decreasing economy in U.S. Trust me it would always be decreasing or broke here, politicians are pure criminals, there wouldn't be anything for the people that paid in. And now at this point, it would go for trans surgerys, and illegals. Whites american males would all be slaughtered if our government had its way. Thats just for starters of course
im sure youtube will shut them down financially and cap their reach. even though google would have never existed under any economic form other than capitalism, and no one would have been successful in google with out it, they all rally against it because they want control, and theyre greedy. they think socialism wont come after them, and theyll be 'in charge' and the eltets... they wont, theyll be in the gulag just like everyone else
This was EXCELLENT. I'm half-Swedish (Mom came over to the US from Sweden when she was 19) and I'm always hearing stories from my mom and Uncle (who still lives in Sweden). It's interesting because my Uncle labels Sweden Socialist. He says their loose border policy has caused a lot of issues (I wish this would have been addressed in this video - and that the debate on immigration has certainly heated up).
@Arwyn The big issue for the manufacturer is that in the US they are extremely likely to get sued, and sued regularly. The litigious nature of American society is one of the biggest problems for businesses to deal with
Imagine a king that lets you create 26 versions of your own newspaper before "giving up". In someplace other than Sweden, he might have been executed or exiled by the tenth edition.
I live in the USA but one of my best friends is from Sweden (we did our PhD together in the USA). My friend used to brag about his country all the time until recently when he confided to me that his beloved country is screwed up - in a very bad way (**). Without revealing too much, all I can say is that he blames all this on the liberal policies enacted in the last 10 years or so.
The problems started far earlyer with the gradual destruction of every aspect of swedish society , culture , morals and basic common sense... around WW2 or earlyer... today and 10 years back we now see the inevitable results of a long process
In a democracy - we are allowed to think, say and believe what we want. We have the access to free press in the Western world but Pres. Trump is trying to stop the free press. Will US remain a democracy?
This was the most informative vid i have seen for a while, thankyou very much from the UK. This should be required viewing for all members of the uk parliament.
I am a liberal myself, living in Sweden, and I do like the basic line of argument in this video. But since it presents a business case for a certain idea, however attractive that idea is, it does project a rather distorted picture of the prevailing reality in Sweden. It is true, in my opinion, that the degree of economic freedom in Sweden is very high in general, but new hurdles and threats keep appearing all the time. Nowadays a big obstacle to innovative thinking is the all-encompassing politically correct conventionality, the urge to uniformity, and a rather unhealthy proliferation of petty rules in all areas in order to achieve that perfect uniformity. To state an example, if you have a business activity which is off the beaten path, you will keep receiving letters and phone calls from your bank asking you time and again to explain where your income comes from - even though it is obvious - and what exactly is your business idea, threatening to freeze your account if you do not provide explanations, ostensibly, in order to combat money laundering. Similarly, in a country where registering a company was a piece of cake, even during the years of the most oppressive social-democratic rule, today you will be surprised to see how many unnecessary obstacles you will face, weird questions to answer and red tape. It is still not as bad as in Greece, my native country, but it is on the way to get there.
every single thing you stated as a drawback is directly caused by liberalism/socialism. each point can be solved by the elimination of socialists/leftists
I concer with your statement about the basic line of the argument in this video. That is Sweden's prosperity is due to how much they have embraced and allowed a free market economy in their nation. I recognize that not all aspects of their embrace free market economy principles. America in like manner prospers to the degree in which it embraces and live the principles of a free market economy, however, we too are suffering from more and more government regulations. Excessive regulations kill innovation and squander much of the money that a company makes. I hope we will turn back to more free market economics.
@@origionalwinja yo... i don't think "eliminating" people is good. Idk If you meant eliminating the political school of thought or not, but even if you just meant eliminating liberal thinking, idk if that's really a good idea. I mean, everyone should have the right to think that way. We need to discuss this stuff, not shut our opponents up.
In America the whole of the PC culture comes from the left, social warriors, me too movements etc... If congress in America were to watch and even believe this documentary it would change nothing for most of our congress. Our Congress is out to take power and wealth from any and all. Pelosi said it best. "we can't trust Americans to have brains" that was not what she said verbatim but that was the gist.
I didn't see a lot of mention if any of the problems of identity politics and immigration, no-go zones, and the drain of immigrant welfare on the system.
According to the documentary, is only 30 years ago since they have financially develop because of the deregulations and the lowering of taxes, they cant say they are going to give America a Lesson, when we develop after 50 years of the settlement in America, by year 1840 we were and Industrial nation, we were financially develop, the crash came on 1932 because of the greed of bankers, politicians and elites. In the 1980, they were still paying 130% in taxes. this documentary is targeting America. and like this, there are to many documentaries trying to convince people that financial freedom comes from socialism.
Me Here can you rewrite thar so it is atleast properly readable? By the way no one targets America here. And Sweden started industrialising in the 1800's already.
Finally, you have managed to win me over completely. What a wonderful series! Erudite, intelligent, well-researched, and true to the things it is professing to teach. Keep up the good work. :-)
The key thing to take from this is Swedish prosperity comes from our consensus culture. It has nothing to do with economics. By realizing we all are in the same boat and not fighting so much we have found solutions everyone in the boat can live with. Nobody got everything they wanted, but we didn't part discontent. Because of this when we change political leadership we don't do 180 with the new power trying to undo everything the former power achieved. What happens is a slight turn in direction, and when we have strayed too far to one side, power changes hands and we begin a slight turn in the other direction.
Study how sweden had Mercantilism (government kingship heavy hand) had proverty, then free ecomony and people thrived, then socialism (government socialists voters heavy hand) created proverty, then back to free markets, where the people thrived again.
My grandfather used to say the best government you can have is a good dictatorship, all the benefits of everything, problem is good people don't take over countries.
This guy is well known for his radical right wing views! Do keep that in mind if you listen to! He definitly does not represent the Sweden I was borne and grew up in!
@@britamagnusson5407 Is well known for his radical right wing views, by who, do i know you? Can you also deffine radical right wing views in a more specific way and are your political views better to represent politic views in Sweden in a more broader way than mine? And anyway, who really cares, swedes has all sorts of different political views.
It's not a documentary though, the aim is to influence the viewer. It is more of a debate article, where they advocate a few opinions of theirs and add (sometimes simplified) facts supporting their views while leaving out facts that could have neuanced the impression.
@Erwin Hun Have you never seen any other Documentary besides this one? What you just described as reasons for it not being a Documentary applies to almost every Documentary I have watched over the last 20 years. Most Documentaries are one sided, just look at the tripe Michael Moore has produced since Columbine. Hell, even his Columbine Documentary is one sided and uses outright dishonest editing to push a false story. Like his "I got a free gun from this bank and took it home the same day" segment. The events are entirely fabricated, because he didn't take it home the same day as he claims. Point is, few Documentaries share both sides of the argument, like Cassey Jay's Documentary did, where she spoke to both sides. Most are little more than propaganda tools.
As the thief needs the upstanding citizen to survive, the welfare state needs capitalism to survive. Capitalism is the engine that generates value, and the entrepreneurs and the capitalists, are their drivers.
My daughter has managed groups of engineers in the technical industry for several years. Whenever she has a new hire, she gives them a copy of the children's book, "The Little Red Hen". After they take it home and read it, she explains what the moral of the story means on the job: if you don't contribute to the process from day 1, you don't get to enjoy any of the rewards at the end of the process. Pretty simple stuff but a lot of people apparently never read the story and internalized it.
It's not a documentary though, the aim is to influence the viewer. It is more of a debate article, where they advocate a few opinions of theirs and add (sometimes simplified) facts supporting their views while leaving out facts that could have neuanced the impression.
I think that the other side has had too long to argue there point of view which is why it is only fair that they get some time to create their own argument.
And this video and organization is sponsored by the Koch Brothers and other megabillionaire oligarchs... if you're not rich, then why the fuck do you believe their lies?
That was quite a surprise that you talk about trust and social cohesion in Sweden without mentioning the number one reason for why it is now steadily declining: massive immigration.
Is not massive immigration a consequence od high taxation and generous welfare programs, not to mention the holes od pension funds that should be filled? That is why social-democracy is unsustainable at long path, as any flavour of socialism.
Sweden has a unique demographic, culture and gov't which was not addressed in this program. Life is very different from the USA. Also Sweden relies on US for military defense and still have high cost of living and taxation. The US social welfare is bankrupting. They need to stop subsidizing defense of Europe. This documentary called Demographic Winter explains why Europe is going through a crisis which will continue far into the future. th-cam.com/video/lZeyYIsGdAA/w-d-xo.html
Clearly you did not watch the video, or failed to remove preconceived notions that you seem to labour under. Most of what you mention as issues was addressed in the video. Social movement is far higher in Sweden than in the US and far far higher than in the UK. That the US is THE land of opportunity is a myth.
There is no massive immigration in Sweden anymore. Get some real information. Nowdays (after 2015) Sweden only takes the EU minimal of immigration. Of course some countries takes less than the EU agreed upon but their are in violation of their agreement.
This is a perfect example of why we need a balance of policies from the left, and the right to achieve a near-ideal nation. A strong, open, caplitalist market economy, with minimal regulations (from the right) can help pay for the various social programs like healthcare and pensions (for the left).
Fascinating. Thank you. Though I can only imagine some poor Venezuelan watching this and seeing the dismal growth numbers from Sweden in the 1970's with envy.
For once I have no words. Thank you for schooling me. You guys said stuff I know and then informed me of stuff I did not know. Great job! This video should be shown to all 8th graders in America...yeah I'm dreaming. THANK YOU!
I wish I could live in a country that he is describing. In my country the middle class have shrunked with 9.1% 1987 - 2012. Our schools are getting worse, and our children score lower and lower on the EU standard (Pisa) test. The low income wages have stagnated for 30 years. Right wing extremism is growing at a rapid pace. The wait time to get medical treatment is getting longer. The ultra rich is taking most of our economic growth and then gamble on the stock exchange abroad. Our industries is moving to low wage countries like China. We have high unemployment and so on. I also live in Sweden, but I don't see any rainbow and sprinkles as Johan sees. So when you watch this video be aware that it is produced by free market fundamentalist and is not the general view in Sweden. The balanced view is somewhere in the middle of my critic and this video.
Same here in France, but those kind of channel never explains why the US average life expectancy is one of the lowest of the OECD while spending the most. Why they also have to pay taxes, but their infrastructure are crumbling ?
Thank you for bringing a well done, insightful, historical, and condensed summary of Sweden’s economic development through time while threading into it the existing social and political atmosphere of those times.
I thought I knew just enough about Sweden to have an intelligent conversation. NOT! This is so good, especially for all of us Americans who also believe they know what kind of system Sweden follows. Thanks so much!
Bravo! Great documentary! I’m Australian and we have a similar story, except we still have a bloated state service employing 60% of the working population meaning the other 40% and associated enterprises are the only ones producing GDP. We have a wealthy economy supported by migration, which is unsustainable and causing flow on social issues like homelessness and crime in the big cities, and we rely heavily on the wealth of mining where we give away the resources (no price on resources, if you can afford to take them). But we too deregulated in the 1990s and it’s proven over and over that government can’t innovate or run businesses at a profit. We are hoping for further deregulated to help us deal with the Covid recession. Sweden and Germany show there is no substitute for medium sized enterprises and vigorous manufacturing!
Great presentation. Although you mention that in the US employer / union relationships are more antagonistic than In Sweden, it is important to also point out that we have less unions overall in US. US unions are more prevalent in labor intensive jobs, e.g. UAW. Many US sectors such as high tech and IT have not unions instead a different model exists.
Same in sweden, unions have alot less presence in IT than in classic industries. Which is good, unions are expensive for companies. Which in the end are bad for the employees.
5:19 It is worth noting that King Adolf Fredrik was in absolutely no way a tyrant. He was a kind man, but reigned as no more than a constitutional figurehead. The power during his reign was in the hands of the parliament.
Philippines also as regards East Asia "The study of how Sweden grew from poverty to one of the richest nations in the world can be contrasted with how Argentina fell from one of the richest countries in the world to where they are today" .
I have Swedish friends who tell me the only way to survive in a small business in Sweden is to “avoid “ at least some taxes.( I really enjoyed the documentary).👍🏻
@Anthony Lemkendorf Would say then they do not have a viable business. If you can not afford to follow the rules (or pay a living wage) then it is not a business it is a fraud scheme. By not following the rules they distort the market and force competitors who follow the rules out of business. That is an unfair advantage and leads to a race to the bottom, it is the same as if the competition got subsidized.
Qinby 1 The point is that the taxes are too high, and mostly go to useless things like paying people not to work. If taxation went to only essential services like defense and maybe some police taxes would be well below 10% and people wouldn't mind paying.
The issue is when you employ someone you have to pay tax - as in you have to pay "the government" to have someone help you increase productivity. But if you, as a company, buy a service or product from another "paper firm" you avoid the VAT and the employment tax. So there's more incentive being your own company and provide labor service than to be employed by someone else.
@Quinby 1: Usually in every country 90% are small businesses. If you put them of weight like high taxation. What can you expect? Bankruptcies, increased unemployment, decreased salaries. Sweden have paved their own failure, but they are going slowly. Sweden was not devastated by two world wars.
"The United States spends more than $8,000 a person per year on health care, well more than twice what Sweden spends. Yet health outcomes are far better in Sweden along virtually every dimension. Its infant mortality rate, for example, was recently less than half that of the United States. Life expectancy in Sweden is 82 and in America it is 78." As per the 2019 Happiness Index, Finland is the happiest country in the world. Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Netherlands hold the next top positions.
I'm Danish and let me begin by saying that I'm really happy for my Finnish sisters and brothers, *but* we _will_ be the happiest nation again very soon. Mark my words, Finland: Denmark is coming for that number one spot! We will be the happiest people on this miserable planet again by any means necessary! (or we can just share the top-spot if you want; that's cool too...)
Anders Chydenius was kind of similar to Juan de Mariana in Spain. It's really interesting to see how people from different cultures and times can end up sharing the same ideals.
Sure, Sweden has done a lot right. But PLEASE america. DONT take the latest turn that Sweden has taken. Importing low skilled, often uneducated and ethnically and culturally different people that dont have a place in the future society that demands high skills, education, IQ, and social cohesion. Sweden is tearing it self apart with a growing class of welfare dependent, non integrated people with little to no loyalty to the society they chose to go to. During my soon 30 year life ive noticed a dramatic shift in Stockholms social cohesion, trust and security. Shootings, grenade attacks, gangs that roam the streets and so on. More and more of this every year. Sure, emulate Sweden all you want. But DONT emulate the latest 30 years.
I do believe that is why the taxes hit the poor so hard. It is the poor who will benefit from the social services more than the elite. The taxes are high and disproportionately (% wise) tax those who benefit the most. Not saying I agree or disagree but I understand the logic there.
My Uncle (who lives in Sweden) tells me about the immigration issues. I wish it would have been mentioned in this video. He says it's worse in Stockholm. He lives in a much smaller town - Linköping.
The social contract with citizens doesnt't work. People have to wait a long time to get medical help. Schools picking there students and we score low in Pisa (partly because of migration). Meanwhile it's hard to rent an apartment. Buying apartments and houses have never before been so expensive in Sweden.
Immigration unchecked will drive up housing costs. Housing inflation got worse in America when immigrants came in at high rates, packing many lower income earners into a single house and eating up the starter housing market. Consequences of not keeping a balanced population, and welfare state.
all the things you complained about are caused by socialists wanting to take back sweeden to the 70's. they crave power, and the have none in a capitalist society
@@larrypilgrim12 You have to remember the difference in US and Swedish immigration. Immigration to the US is mainly for economical reasons, and as there are serious shortages of low wage jobs in America, they fill places Americans wouldn't take and contribute to the economy. There are still local problems that emerge when large groups settle, but it's still different. In Sweden the problematic influx of people came around 2013. Before that we mainly saw economic Eastern European migrants, and some refugees from Yugoslavia. But the large welfare state couldn't handle an enormous migration and maintain the same standard of living. The Swedish government decided to sacrifice those luxuries that people had become used to, that's all.
Swede here. I never liked the idolization of our nation, especially not by americans. Most importantly, Sweden is very small compared to the USA, basically like a state. So you would probably be better off just learning from each other between different states depending on who figured out the best solution for a given issue. Second, we have very different cultures. We are a mix of more socialist and more capitalist people, sort of doing a political balancing act by letting employees and employers organize and negotiate over things. My impression is that USA doesn't have that cultural mix, so probably not applicable? Finally, there is no harm in getting inspiration from anywhere you can, but keep in mind that we have problems in Sweden too. It's not the paradise we often seem to be portrayed as, even if it's pretty close on a good day 😁
I watched this video and was astounded that Sweden truly did, by admission of those in the video, "Mature" into realizing that the socialistic economic model did profound damage to their economy and realized the need to focuse on more private based options of management and financing. I wasnt too chuffed about the continued socialistic redistribution of wealth to maintain several social welfare services, but I was exuberant about realizing the markets of Sweden are freer than that of the US. Far less regulations and tarriffs. less of an adversarial relationship between the unions (probably the cause of continued social welfare), but it is less of a "gimme gimme" mentality, and more of a "how can we make this work to earn more for everyone" mentality.
To clear confusion: Capitalism is private ownership; Socialism is Government ownership; Communism is worker ownership. ALL countries are hybrids of these three abstract concepts. When countries move too far towards one of these poles they start to implode. Government regulations are the threshold metric to determine where you are. The more regulations and taxes, the more Socialist, less equals more Capitalist. If you remove too many regulations it allows a few bad actors to knock down the system (Great depression; 2008 crisis to name a few). Too much taxation/regulations and you stifle innovation - taxing at 139% should be obviously unsustainable. There, now the 'Bernie needs to watch' this, or 'Denmark isn't socialist', nonsense comments can be put to bed. You're welcome.
Travis Meyer no your wrong. Socialism is usually the workers or union or government control of the means of production. Without that it’s still capitalist since you own the means to produce invest and consume. Nordic countries are not socialist at all. Many aspects of the economy there markets are more free than the US.
I wonder if Sweden has already figured out how to deal with advancements in AI and robotics displacing the country's workforce in the not too distant future.
1st and really big, even on the street scenes there is no visable ethinticity in the vid. USA Our home is white European, including Sweedes, native American, South American, (Euro and insidiousness) black from Africa Carribean and Middle East, Asian from every part of the rim, Korean, Japanese, Okinawan, Viet Nam, Twain, Chinese, Phillipeens, Australian, and Russian Croatian, Serbian, mid East Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran Turkey, Jordan Egypt and Jews. None of them, none, are of the same identity, mind set, or world view. We are clay and iron. Our weekness is simply people from everywhere. Want to keep Sweeden, than keep people out.
I find your innovative approach's to social engineering problems fascinating and far less tribal and hierarchal than those of North America. Your constructs have great value, and i am so pleased you shared them . Thank you. from Canada.
Great documentary. I would hope our politicians here in America would watch and learn. Stop the character assassination politics and solve the problems.The mature look at the math was a great statement that We the people should demand.
The health care system in Sweden is roughly the same, government funded privately run hospitals and doctor offices, as what progressives in the US are proposing. The reason for-profit private schools in Sweden works is the fact that in order to receive education vouchers they must have unbiased admissions (based only on the date of application) and be tuition free. This is not the model conservatives in the US are proposing where in the school would receive the voucher and still be allowed to charge tuition on top of that. The reason Swedish workers don't need minimum wage laws is because of the incredibly high unionization rate, ~70% of the workforce is unionized, ~90% are covered by collective agreements. This high rate is facilitated by the Ghent system, where in workers have to belong to a union in order to receive union benefits, including unemployment benefits. Note this is the opposite of "right to work" laws. A high value added tax (VAT) / sales tax does not burden the poor more if you have adequate welfare programs to give them the benefits from said taxes. Despite reducing regulations and increasing privatization since the 1980s, Sweden is still way further left on both the economic spectrum and the political spectrum than the US. It seems like Sweden is going for a middle of the road approach between socialism and capitalism, and it seems to be working.
What a great documentary. There are some good takeaways. I think you are right, the extra-high taxes would be rejected in America. The idea of the voucher systems for schools and having schools dealt with at the local level is very encouraging, and there are many advocating for that here and getting the federal government out of the schools system. One of the biggest challenges we are facing here is over a half million homeless across the nation. I notice that Sweden's is around 6,000, despite the rather generous welfare system. I would think that would be near zero. What is the contributing factor for that there? And, have those numbers changed with the influx of refugees? I watched a documentary earlier and was very concerned about the increase in crime. My vision of Sweden has always been as a very clean, safe, peaceful place. I love the cyclist airbag idea and I hope they are making strides in getting it introduced in the U.S. Despite our innovation at times we are reluctant for very bold new ideas. I do have one story to share. I was cycling a few years ago and had a standard foam-type helmet on. A rock truck passed me and kicked back a rock that took a 1" deep divot out of the front of my helmet just above the forehead. I was glad I had it, but there is a lot of discussion around as to whether the helmets are really as safe as they are promoted to be.
"As a Filipino, Sweden is one of my favorite European countries to visit and live in on all aspects and honestly my home country Philippines will be the next Venezuela in the next 10 years year 2030 !!!"
Balance is the Key for "prosperity" to as many as possible! I am left and this is right leaning but there are good points here in the current economic system we have.
Wow. As an American capitalist, I knew the welfare system in Sweden was different than it was in US, But I didn't know it was.... Capitalist different. What a great system they have.
Since they are focusing on productivity, I am surprised that they take Capitalist ownership of the means of production for granted without ever addressing the benefits and drawbacks other productive arrangements, such as worker co-operatives and state-owned enterprises. Here in the US almost all of the real innovation in the sciences and technology happens in government institutions funded with public funds.
Sweden isn’t rich. Everyone who has relatives there knows that. Sweden didn’t rise up through communism, but rather a industrial revolution. I was told sweden was in fact not very communistic in the past, and blue views were dominating through this important time. This is probably why aftonbladet was shut down so many times. In those times taxes were lower in Sweden than in the USA. The swedish tax story is the most sad in the world. I understand swedes are still hyper taxed by employees fee and its still suffocating the economy in many ways. Tax oppression results in more stressed middle class, which is clearly the case in sweden. 1/8 of all working days people are too ill for work! At first the government justified the hyper taxation by providing all educational, health and utility services. Since then most have been privatized but the taxes stay the same or higher than ever. Of course privatizing is very necessary with third world import so far out of control.
Swedes are very entrepreneurial. I got a call on new year's day in the 90s from an anarcho-capitalist Swede (drunk btw) who was telling me about his (illegal) booze import business. Apparently, booze is highly taxed in Sweden, or at least, was then.
The swedish Staterun monopoly on booze is kind of interesting, sweden is the cheapest country to buy high quaility booze. Swedes travel to germany to buy cheap beer, Germans travel to sweden to buy high quality booze.
My cousin, Finn-Christian, of Skarnes, Norway, would drive us across the border to Karlstad, Sweden, to get alcohol. It was cheaper than Norway, though I preferred the Hansa that he had stashed in his basement. He wouldn't part with it, so we bought Lappland beer in Sweden, instead. Not as good, but drinkable. Being close to the border, he spoke Swedish quite well. He also picked up some spirits on the continent, since he could travel there for free, being buddies with several sea captains. In Karlstad, they had a big candy store the size of a warehouse. In the States, they only had "licorice flavor" licorice, so I was excited to see so much licorice in Sweden !!! My excitement turned to horror when I tasted Swedish licorice. It was all salted. I had to wash it down.
Unironically. Most progressives don’t actually want to be rid of capitalism. We simply don’t want it to run rampant at the expense of human life and health.
My mother was born and raised in Ludvika, Sweden. She lived in Sweden until the age of 25 when she met my father (American) and moved to the U.S. Her blue eyes dance as she speaks with such love and reverence about growing up in central Sweden. It's good to know the facts about my mother's home country and why Sweden has enjoyed such a high standard of living and otherwise great place to live. Attributing Sweden's quality of life to socialist policies is nonsense, but you wouldn't know it listening to the idiot politicians here in the U.S. I wish the spirit of Anders Chydenius would manifest here in America; we would all be the better for it. Thanks for posting.
Until the school you wanted is full ! You must register at birth and hope they get to your number , that seems stupid to me . So a full list for good schools , someone is gonna lose out ! Yet pay the same in taxes but don't get the equal school .
in my country of Malaysia , my state, Sarawak (it's the biggest state in Malaysia, located on the 3rd biggest island in the world - Borneo Island / East Malaysia) the state gov (we have gotten our autonomy back or we're trying to gain more back in relations to our constitution -- here's hoping) , the newly appointed Chief Minister has introduced to build 5 international English schools for the local students there (our education syllabus is governed by the federal gov) in the next few years to ensure that even the low-income bracket of the state can profit from an elevated education and potentially, in the future, these students can contribute to the state. the CM wants the state to be a tech-hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. The only thing that slowed down that progress is the pandemic but i believe, once that is curbed (hopefully), we can be as successful as what Sweden has accomplished.
Thank Sweden for setting up a role model of democracy with econ prosperity and human rights, which proves its superority to socialist dictatorships. Thank Norberg for this informative and inspiring documentary.
Unfortunately, the sophistry of socialism will always be highly alluring to those who don't think very deeply. The statement made toward the end of the video is quite true but also an understatement, "It's not always intuitive why the free market economy is the best." It certainly wouldn't hurt if just a smidgen of K-12 teachers were willing and able to offer pro free market arguments when the opportunity presented itself. I, Pencil could be made required reading at a young age. I know, the howling would never stop if that simple measure were ever to be seriously proposed. Fascist and corrupting they would rage. It would be "disruptive" to the steady IV drip of political correctness. There is no telling what will happen politically in America if the economy turns down. Most K-12 public school teachers, having attended cultural Marxist universities and knowing little or nothing about economics, are pale reflections of AOC. We could easily end up with Sanders or someone similar.
The study of how Sweden grew from poverty to one of the richest nations in the world can be contrasted with how Argentina fell from one of the richest countries in the world to where they are today.
username absolutely. Dependency theory and the socialism that it's spawned from ruined Argentina.
argentina was on the top 5 or 6 on the late 19th early 20th century , its crazy what happened to them
What do you think about people who are dependent on the sun to sustain life?
Exactly, I’m from Argentina and its mind blowing the amount of destruction populist and socialist governments created. But the people here want more socialism, they say its not enough. You can see by yourselves the indoctrination that is taking place on public schools and universities. We truly are in a state of emergency.
And this video and organization is sponsored by the Koch Brothers and other megabillionaire oligarchs... if you're not rich, then why the fuck do you believe their lies?
So its true after all.
Hard times create strong men,
strong men create good times,
good times make weak men,
weak men make hard times.
Hard times make hard-ons weaker, occasional-kotex wouldn't know the difference, so stiffies come back in vogue, strong women know the difference:good times return.
Sounds like my life story 100p
zion33 😂
Every man’s journey
Few words, great truth
"In order to distribute a cake,somebody must have baked it at first". Best lesson learnt from this video!!!!!!
Collosal wisdom!!
Moulieswara Prasad you cant tax your way to prosperity.
What I learned from the video is that such a model would never work in the US. Swedes are very eastern in their philosophy. They understand that you have to cooperate and be productive individuals for the company to succeed so that you can in turn succeed...a lot like Japan. The western philosophy is that you should be as lazy as possible and at the same time make as much money as possible. That's why labor unions in the US are just purely toxic.
First and foremost, the cake is based. Secondly, a lot more hands than the entrepreneur went into baking that cake... public infrastructure, government policies, labor, etc
@@jobroadcommunityimpact6494 But the entrepreneur takes the sole risk by purchasing the equipment, the ingredients, committing to a commercial lease or investing in the purchase of a location, paying for advertising, paying for insurance (liability and loss through fire or some other damage), and the myriad other items it takes to open and successfully maintain a business. All that before they even open their doors for business, all in hopes that the cake (or widget) he or she makes is good enough the public will continue to purchase their wares to keep them in business. If the business fails, the entrepreneur is on the hook for all the investment made resulting in possible bankruptcy or lingering debt. The employee simply loses that job and is tasked with finding another. Very little, if any, risk to them.
This film should be part of every freshman orientation at every college and university in every country, including and especially in the USA.
"A Scandinavian economist once said to Milton Friedman, ‘In Scandinavia, we have no poverty’. Milton Friedman replied, ‘That’s interesting, because in America, among Scandinavians, we have no poverty, either’."
As a Scandinavian-American who grew up in poverty, I contest that statement.
My God It is my mother sitting on the big staircase outside on one of the step smoking (at 27:58) in early 70´s visiting Stockholm, I was so chocked and surprised to see her since she past on at only age 60 in 2002. That is so awesome, she would have loved it to be in a documentary about this matter, since she and my dad had a family accounting /law firm.
My dad (that has also past away in June 1983) was so upset in the beginning of the 80´s due to the tax increase, because he could only hire my older sister to work in the family firm since the taxes for the employer fee was to huge for him to give me a job in our family owned business :(
So I went to America to work instead after college at age 18.
LiZ- Marie wow, cool
She is very young there, like 18 or something. Nice you have her on film now.
In Slovenia we have a say: The first generation builds, the second lives of the fruits of the first generations work, and the third spends it all.
That was an awesome documentary. I'm from Brazil and we have a lot to learn with Sweden. We are learn, but we still have a long road ahead.
In Brazil I also hear lots of people saying that we should be socialist like Sweden. "Socialist economy" doesn"'t exist, because there is no calculation of prices. I loved Anders Chydenius story.
Seems like Bernie Sanders doesn't really know much about Sweden
harley woolford he doesn't know about much other than demagoguery.
Bernie Sanders politics would result in a Venezuela rather than a Sweden. Very good points on the topic here: onarchy.liberty.me/bernie-sanders-is-not-a-scandinavian-style-socialist/
seems like bernie doesen't know much about anything
Bernie is not considered a socialist at all by Swedish standard. If Bernie were a Swedish politician he would be considered right wing.
Thanks for the wonderful video Johan.
As for bernie sanders: There are only two options. 1) He absolutely doesn't know. 2) Or, he is deceitful (for whatever motive i.e., power, greed, stupidity, etc.). Regardless, most bernie supporters don't realize bernie speaks out of his backside, which is common among "progressives" (left-wing & right-wing). Sad but true.
"Without economic growth there is no wealth to share". This video is an eye-opener. Thank you for this.
Used to work for Swedish company indirectly and love the way they do business and management style. Thanks Electrolux.
Were you in the lingonberry industry?
Wait a minute. Electrolux is a Swedish company?
@@danijelandroid Yup!
Try working for a smaller company and tell me the same :p
@@bastrixer You don't automatically get rich just because you have a small business in Sweden. You get rich if you have an amazing idea. Small business owners like to pretend like they are the backbone of our economy and should get all the free stuffs. That's BS. You have a job, and should contribute to society just like everyone else. And if you come up with the next Spotify idea, then yeah, you're gonna have well earned success. But don't cry me a small business owner river .
Imagine having a whole documentary telling you how a country went from being poor to rich through a free market economy and still believing that big government is the solution to all your problems 😂
What an excellent documentary! I was shocked by many jaw-dropping facts about how positive and experimental Sweden has become: NO minimum wage law! Taxation is regressive! Socialized medicine is provided by private competing services! National education is provided by private competing services! Politics is removed from the pension system by automatically increasing or decreasing benefits based on the success of the overall economy! What I admire most is how Sweden's vast experience has led to a more consensus-driven society that fosters freedom, innovation, and competition. We in the U.S. have a lot to learn from Sweden!
If pensioms were based on increasing or decreasing economy in U.S.
Trust me it would always be decreasing or broke here, politicians are pure criminals, there wouldn't be anything for the people that paid in.
And now at this point, it would go for trans surgerys, and illegals.
Whites american males would all be slaughtered if our government had its way. Thats just for starters of course
I hope that this gets a wide audience here on TH-cam!
im sure youtube will shut them down financially and cap their reach. even though google would have never existed under any economic form other than capitalism, and no one would have been successful in google with out it, they all rally against it because they want control, and theyre greedy. they think socialism wont come after them, and theyll be 'in charge' and the eltets... they wont, theyll be in the gulag just like everyone else
45:19 Sometimes it takes a trip overseas to understand how good you have it in your own backyard, and why you should work to preserve it.
This was EXCELLENT. I'm half-Swedish (Mom came over to the US from Sweden when she was 19) and I'm always hearing stories from my mom and Uncle (who still lives in Sweden). It's interesting because my Uncle labels Sweden Socialist. He says their loose border policy has caused a lot of issues (I wish this would have been addressed in this video - and that the debate on immigration has certainly heated up).
Stupid US Consumer Protection Agency won't let US Citizens have that awesome airbag helmet !!
@Arwyn The big issue for the manufacturer is that in the US they are extremely likely to get sued, and sued regularly. The litigious nature of American society is one of the biggest problems for businesses to deal with
It musses your hair. Can't have that.
@Arwyn But people should also be free too wear even bulletproof helmets if they wanted to.
I'm working on airbag underwear to save genitalia.
@@robotnik77 What hair? xD
Imagine a king that lets you create 26 versions of your own newspaper before "giving up".
In someplace other than Sweden, he might have been executed or exiled by the tenth edition.
I live in the USA but one of my best friends is from Sweden (we did our PhD together in the USA). My friend used to brag about his country all the time until recently when he confided to me that his beloved country is screwed up - in a very bad way (**). Without revealing too much, all I can say is that he blames all this on the liberal policies enacted in the last 10 years or so.
Of course you are using the term "Liberal" in the American sense of the word?
J N sad. Last night was a close call for many who voted red.
The problems started far earlyer with the gradual destruction of every aspect of swedish society , culture , morals and basic common sense...
around WW2 or earlyer... today and 10 years back we now see the inevitable results of a long process
In a democracy - we are allowed to think, say and believe what we want. We have the access to free press in the Western world but Pres. Trump is trying to stop the free press. Will US remain a democracy?
They shouldn't have opened their boarders.
This was the most informative vid i have seen for a while, thankyou very much from the UK. This should be required viewing for all members of the uk parliament.
Devastatingly under-watched documentary. Thank you to everyone who made this. Real eye opener.
Between this and Sabaton, I’m developing a newfound respect and/or interest in Sweden
I am a liberal myself, living in Sweden, and I do like the basic line of argument in this video. But since it presents a business case for a certain idea, however attractive that idea is, it does project a rather distorted picture of the prevailing reality in Sweden. It is true, in my opinion, that the degree of economic freedom in Sweden is very high in general, but new hurdles and threats keep appearing all the time. Nowadays a big obstacle to innovative thinking is the all-encompassing politically correct conventionality, the urge to uniformity, and a rather unhealthy proliferation of petty rules in all areas in order to achieve that perfect uniformity. To state an example, if you have a business activity which is off the beaten path, you will keep receiving letters and phone calls from your bank asking you time and again to explain where your income comes from - even though it is obvious - and what exactly is your business idea, threatening to freeze your account if you do not provide explanations, ostensibly, in order to combat money laundering. Similarly, in a country where registering a company was a piece of cake, even during the years of the most oppressive social-democratic rule, today you will be surprised to see how many unnecessary obstacles you will face, weird questions to answer and red tape. It is still not as bad as in Greece, my native country, but it is on the way to get there.
every single thing you stated as a drawback is directly caused by liberalism/socialism. each point can be solved by the elimination of socialists/leftists
I concer with your statement about the basic line of the argument in this video. That is Sweden's prosperity is due to how much they have embraced and allowed a free market economy in their nation. I recognize that not all aspects of their embrace free market economy principles. America in like manner prospers to the degree in which it embraces and live the principles of a free market economy, however, we too are suffering from more and more government regulations. Excessive regulations kill innovation and squander much of the money that a company makes. I hope we will turn back to more free market economics.
@@origionalwinja yo... i don't think "eliminating" people is good.
Idk If you meant eliminating the political school of thought or not, but even if you just meant eliminating liberal thinking, idk if that's really a good idea. I mean, everyone should have the right to think that way. We need to discuss this stuff, not shut our opponents up.
In America the whole of the PC culture comes from the left, social warriors, me too movements etc... If congress in America were to watch and even believe this documentary it would change nothing for most of our congress. Our Congress is out to take power and wealth from any and all. Pelosi said it best. "we can't trust Americans to have brains" that was not what she said verbatim but that was the gist.
@@audreyandremington5265 I agree to a point.... I draw the line at indoctrination of kids in school, and college though!
We had it all figured out, but then we imported identity politics and it went bad really fast. Shootings and grenads in the streets.
It'll be that way as long as cage-free liberals roam the allies and halls of Congress.
I didn't see a lot of mention if any of the problems of identity politics and immigration, no-go zones, and the drain of immigrant welfare on the system.
According to the documentary, is only 30 years ago since they have financially develop because of the deregulations and the lowering of taxes, they cant say they are going to give America a Lesson, when we develop after 50 years of the settlement in America, by year 1840 we were and Industrial nation, we were financially develop, the crash came on 1932 because of the greed of bankers, politicians and elites. In the 1980, they were still paying 130% in taxes. this documentary is targeting America. and like this, there are to many documentaries trying to convince people that financial freedom comes from socialism.
Imported ? How ?
Me Here can you rewrite thar so it is atleast properly readable? By the way no one targets America here. And Sweden started industrialising in the 1800's already.
Finally, you have managed to win me over completely. What a wonderful series! Erudite, intelligent, well-researched, and true to the things it is professing to teach. Keep up the good work. :-)
The key thing to take from this is Swedish prosperity comes from our consensus culture. It has nothing to do with economics.
By realizing we all are in the same boat and not fighting so much we have found solutions everyone in the boat can live with. Nobody got everything they wanted, but we didn't part discontent.
Because of this when we change political leadership we don't do 180 with the new power trying to undo everything the former power achieved. What happens is a slight turn in direction, and when we have strayed too far to one side, power changes hands and we begin a slight turn in the other direction.
Of course it has to do with economics. You're using only one eye. Open the other.
yeah, it's been good - now it's going to fuck - watch the promised re-writing of the constitution and see what happens now...
I watched this on PBS and then stayed up to watch it again at
2 a.m. it was an awesome program
Study how sweden had Mercantilism (government kingship heavy hand) had proverty, then free ecomony and people thrived, then socialism (government socialists voters heavy hand) created proverty, then back to free markets, where the people thrived again.
The greatest system must have features of all : a King, a hint of social democracy, and a mostly free market.
My grandfather used to say the best government you can have is a good dictatorship, all the benefits of everything, problem is good people don't take over countries.
A people that love to tinker with socio-economic ideas as much as products. Now they're shooting themselves in the feet again.
And now Islamism where the Sweden will be finished.
Limerickman who knew right? Haha
Thanks for this amazing documentary (from a classical liberal swedish citizen).
This guy is well known for his radical right wing views!
Do keep that in mind if you listen to! He definitly does not represent the Sweden I was borne and grew up in!
@@britamagnusson5407 Is well known for his radical right wing views, by who, do i know you? Can you also deffine radical right wing views in a more specific way and are your political views better to represent politic views in Sweden in a more broader way than mine? And anyway, who really cares, swedes has all sorts of different political views.
It's not a documentary though, the aim is to influence the viewer. It is more of a debate article, where they advocate a few opinions of theirs and add (sometimes simplified) facts supporting their views while leaving out facts that could have neuanced the impression.
@Erwin Hun
Have you never seen any other Documentary besides this one? What you just described as reasons for it not being a Documentary applies to almost every Documentary I have watched over the last 20 years. Most Documentaries are one sided, just look at the tripe Michael Moore has produced since Columbine. Hell, even his Columbine Documentary is one sided and uses outright dishonest editing to push a false story. Like his "I got a free gun from this bank and took it home the same day" segment. The events are entirely fabricated, because he didn't take it home the same day as he claims.
Point is, few Documentaries share both sides of the argument, like Cassey Jay's Documentary did, where she spoke to both sides. Most are little more than propaganda tools.
@@erwinhun What simplified facts then?
yes, we should learn the fact that they have school choice over there
As the thief needs the upstanding citizen to survive, the welfare state needs capitalism to survive. Capitalism is the engine that generates value, and the entrepreneurs and the capitalists, are their drivers.
I hope this pops up in Bernie Sander's TH-cam suggestions
Absolutely wonderful to watch and very sightful. thank you for posting this to the public!
Did invading Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Niger,... helped the civilians?
My daughter has managed groups of engineers in the technical industry for several years. Whenever she has a new hire, she gives them a copy of the children's book, "The Little Red Hen". After they take it home and read it, she explains what the moral of the story means on the job: if you don't contribute to the process from day 1, you don't get to enjoy any of the rewards at the end of the process. Pretty simple stuff but a lot of people apparently never read the story and internalized it.
Thank you for this beautiful documentary. Cheers from Romania
Şi salutari din statele unite! Glad to see this spreading to toata lumea!
It's not a documentary though, the aim is to influence the viewer. It is more of a debate article, where they advocate a few opinions of theirs and add (sometimes simplified) facts supporting their views while leaving out facts that could have neuanced the impression.
I think that the other side has had too long to argue there point of view which is why it is only fair that they get some time to create their own argument.
And this video and organization is sponsored by the Koch Brothers and other megabillionaire oligarchs... if you're not rich, then why the fuck do you believe their lies?
Erwin Hun Måste vara trist att vara gråsosse i detta århundrade
Thank you from Texas and thank you.
That was quite a surprise that you talk about trust and social cohesion in Sweden without mentioning the number one reason for why it is now steadily declining: massive immigration.
Is not massive immigration a consequence od high taxation and generous welfare programs, not to mention the holes od pension funds that should be filled? That is why social-democracy is unsustainable at long path, as any flavour of socialism.
Sweden has a unique demographic, culture and gov't which was not addressed in this program. Life is very different from the USA. Also Sweden relies on US for military defense and still have high cost of living and taxation. The US social welfare is bankrupting. They need to stop subsidizing defense of Europe. This documentary called Demographic Winter explains why Europe is going through a crisis which will continue far into the future. th-cam.com/video/lZeyYIsGdAA/w-d-xo.html
You can have high immigration if you don't have a welfare state.
Clearly you did not watch the video, or failed to remove preconceived notions that you seem to labour under. Most of what you mention as issues was addressed in the video. Social movement is far higher in Sweden than in the US and far far higher than in the UK. That the US is THE land of opportunity is a myth.
There is no massive immigration in Sweden anymore.
Get some real information.
Nowdays (after 2015) Sweden only takes the EU minimal of immigration.
Of course some countries takes less than the EU agreed upon but their are in violation of their agreement.
This is a perfect example of why we need a balance of policies from the left, and the right to achieve a near-ideal nation. A strong, open, caplitalist market economy, with minimal regulations (from the right) can help pay for the various social programs like healthcare and pensions (for the left).
Fascinating. Thank you.
Though I can only imagine some poor Venezuelan watching this and seeing the dismal growth numbers from Sweden in the 1970's with envy.
For once I have no words. Thank you for schooling me. You guys said stuff I know and then informed me of stuff I did not know. Great job! This video should be shown to all 8th graders in America...yeah I'm dreaming. THANK YOU!
Sweden has run a budget surplus since 2004
@@denisebilby4947 do you live in sweden,no then shhhhhh dumbass and turn of fox news its not god for you
I wish I could live in a country that he is describing.
In my country the middle class have shrunked with 9.1% 1987 - 2012. Our schools are getting worse, and our children score lower and lower on the EU standard (Pisa) test.
The low income wages have stagnated for 30 years. Right wing extremism is growing at a rapid pace. The wait time to get medical treatment is getting longer. The ultra rich is taking most of our economic growth and then gamble on the stock exchange abroad. Our industries is moving to low wage countries like China. We have high unemployment and so on.
I also live in Sweden, but I don't see any rainbow and sprinkles as Johan sees. So when you watch this video be aware that it is produced by free market fundamentalist and is not the general view in Sweden. The balanced view is somewhere in the middle of my critic and this video.
I'm Swedish and this clip is just pure neo-liberalist propaganda.
Well spoken, I 100% agree
I couldn't agree more Martin. Unfortunatelly it is a total absence of nuances in the video.
Same here in France, but those kind of channel never explains why the US average life expectancy is one of the lowest of the OECD while spending the most.
Why they also have to pay taxes, but their infrastructure are crumbling ?
"Right wing extremism is growing at a rapid pace."
Gee i wonder why.
Excellent presentation. Thank you so much, Johan for sharing this with us (in the US)!
Ta mig fan den bästa beskrivningen jag någonsin sett.
Thank you for bringing a well done, insightful, historical, and condensed summary of Sweden’s economic development through time while threading into it the existing social and political atmosphere of those times.
Are you cidding me.
I thought I knew just enough about Sweden to have an intelligent conversation. NOT! This is so good, especially for all of us Americans who also believe they know what kind of system Sweden follows. Thanks so much!
Bravo! Great documentary! I’m Australian and we have a similar story, except we still have a bloated state service employing 60% of the working population meaning the other 40% and associated enterprises are the only ones producing GDP. We have a wealthy economy supported by migration, which is unsustainable and causing flow on social issues like homelessness and crime in the big cities, and we rely heavily on the wealth of mining where we give away the resources (no price on resources, if you can afford to take them). But we too deregulated in the 1990s and it’s proven over and over that government can’t innovate or run businesses at a profit. We are hoping for further deregulated to help us deal with the Covid recession. Sweden and Germany show there is no substitute for medium sized enterprises and vigorous manufacturing!
Great presentation. Although you mention that in the US employer / union relationships are more antagonistic than In Sweden, it is important to also point out that we have less unions overall in US. US unions are more prevalent in labor intensive jobs, e.g. UAW. Many US sectors such as high tech and IT have not unions instead a different model exists.
Same in sweden, unions have alot less presence in IT than in classic industries. Which is good, unions are expensive for companies. Which in the end are bad for the employees.
5:19 It is worth noting that King Adolf Fredrik was in absolutely no way a tyrant. He was a kind man, but reigned as no more than a constitutional figurehead. The power during his reign was in the hands of the parliament.
What a fantastic feature for understanding Sweden. Thank you Johan Norberg for this excellent presentation/feature.
Philippines also as regards East Asia "The study of how Sweden grew from poverty to one of the richest nations in the world can be contrasted with how Argentina fell from one of the richest countries in the world to where they are today" .
I have Swedish friends who tell me the only way to survive in a small business in Sweden is to “avoid “ at least some taxes.( I really enjoyed the documentary).👍🏻
@Anthony Lemkendorf
Would say then they do not have a viable business.
If you can not afford to follow the rules (or pay a living wage) then it is not a business it is a fraud scheme.
By not following the rules they distort the market and force competitors who follow the rules out of business.
That is an unfair advantage and leads to a race to the bottom, it is the same as if the competition got subsidized.
Qinby 1 The point is that the taxes are too high, and mostly go to useless things like paying people not to work. If taxation went to only essential services like defense and maybe some police taxes would be well below 10% and people wouldn't mind paying.
The issue is when you employ someone you have to pay tax - as in you have to pay "the government" to have someone help you increase productivity. But if you, as a company, buy a service or product from another "paper firm" you avoid the VAT and the employment tax. So there's more incentive being your own company and provide labor service than to be employed by someone else.
ger du, I am sensing quite a lot of anger from you. Please try to have a better attitude - like that of Niklas Ohlsson, below.
@Quinby 1: Usually in every country 90% are small businesses. If you put them of weight like high taxation. What can you expect? Bankruptcies, increased unemployment, decreased salaries. Sweden have paved their own failure, but they are going slowly. Sweden was not devastated by two world wars.
Thanks for this meaningful share on your homeland. A lot to learn from Swedish experience.
"The United States spends more than $8,000 a person per year on health care, well more than twice what Sweden spends. Yet health outcomes are far better in Sweden along virtually every dimension. Its infant mortality rate, for example, was recently less than half that of the United States. Life expectancy in Sweden is 82 and in America it is 78." As per the 2019 Happiness Index, Finland is the happiest country in the world. Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Netherlands hold the next top positions.
I'm Danish and let me begin by saying that I'm really happy for my Finnish sisters and brothers, *but* we _will_ be the happiest nation again very soon. Mark my words, Finland: Denmark is coming for that number one spot! We will be the happiest people on this miserable planet again by any means necessary! (or we can just share the top-spot if you want; that's cool too...)
@@thewhat531 Oh no here come the Danes stealing our happiness.. quick hide it boys!!
really excellent video, this guy is so entertaining I'm surprised we don't see more of him...thanks for posting
This was a very informative and illuminating video. I enjoyed the light tone and the affably laid-back style of the host. Liked!
Anders Chydenius was kind of similar to Juan de Mariana in Spain.
It's really interesting to see how people from different cultures and times can end up sharing the same ideals.
The school voucher system is a system described by Milton Friedman in 1979, in Free to choose.
Sure, Sweden has done a lot right. But PLEASE america. DONT take the latest turn that Sweden has taken. Importing low skilled, often uneducated and ethnically and culturally different people that dont have a place in the future society that demands high skills, education, IQ, and social cohesion.
Sweden is tearing it self apart with a growing class of welfare dependent, non integrated people with little to no loyalty to the society they chose to go to. During my soon 30 year life ive noticed a dramatic shift in Stockholms social cohesion, trust and security. Shootings, grenade attacks, gangs that roam the streets and so on. More and more of this every year.
Sure, emulate Sweden all you want. But DONT emulate the latest 30 years.
I do believe that is why the taxes hit the poor so hard. It is the poor who will benefit from the social services more than the elite. The taxes are high and disproportionately (% wise) tax those who benefit the most. Not saying I agree or disagree but I understand the logic there.
My Uncle (who lives in Sweden) tells me about the immigration issues. I wish it would have been mentioned in this video. He says it's worse in Stockholm. He lives in a much smaller town - Linköping.
" Importing low skilled..."
uh-oh, too late
That is what will destroy that fairytale!
immigrants "DEMANDS" IQ? Welp, that's a new one.
The social contract with citizens doesnt't work. People have to wait a long time to get medical help. Schools picking there students and we score low in Pisa (partly because of migration). Meanwhile it's hard to rent an apartment. Buying apartments and houses have never before been so expensive in Sweden.
Immigration unchecked will drive up housing costs. Housing inflation got worse in America when immigrants came in at high rates, packing many lower income earners into a single house and eating up the starter housing market. Consequences of not keeping a balanced population, and welfare state.
all the things you complained about are caused by socialists wanting to take back sweeden to the 70's. they crave power, and the have none in a capitalist society
@@larrypilgrim12 You have to remember the difference in US and Swedish immigration. Immigration to the US is mainly for economical reasons, and as there are serious shortages of low wage jobs in America, they fill places Americans wouldn't take and contribute to the economy. There are still local problems that emerge when large groups settle, but it's still different. In Sweden the problematic influx of people came around 2013. Before that we mainly saw economic Eastern European migrants, and some refugees from Yugoslavia. But the large welfare state couldn't handle an enormous migration and maintain the same standard of living. The Swedish government decided to sacrifice those luxuries that people had become used to, that's all.
This video needs more views
Love this! Thank you for producing this video, Mr. Norberg!
Swede here. I never liked the idolization of our nation, especially not by americans. Most importantly, Sweden is very small compared to the USA, basically like a state. So you would probably be better off just learning from each other between different states depending on who figured out the best solution for a given issue. Second, we have very different cultures. We are a mix of more socialist and more capitalist people, sort of doing a political balancing act by letting employees and employers organize and negotiate over things. My impression is that USA doesn't have that cultural mix, so probably not applicable? Finally, there is no harm in getting inspiration from anywhere you can, but keep in mind that we have problems in Sweden too. It's not the paradise we often seem to be portrayed as, even if it's pretty close on a good day 😁
I watched this video and was astounded that Sweden truly did, by admission of those in the video, "Mature" into realizing that the socialistic economic model did profound damage to their economy and realized the need to focuse on more private based options of management and financing. I wasnt too chuffed about the continued socialistic redistribution of wealth to maintain several social welfare services, but I was exuberant about realizing the markets of Sweden are freer than that of the US. Far less regulations and tarriffs. less of an adversarial relationship between the unions (probably the cause of continued social welfare), but it is less of a "gimme gimme" mentality, and more of a "how can we make this work to earn more for everyone" mentality.
You missed 3 points. Effects of having a intact capital after WW1. Inflation during the interwar period and having a intact capital after WW2.
To clear confusion: Capitalism is private ownership; Socialism is Government ownership; Communism is worker ownership. ALL countries are hybrids of these three abstract concepts. When countries move too far towards one of these poles they start to implode. Government regulations are the threshold metric to determine where you are. The more regulations and taxes, the more Socialist, less equals more Capitalist. If you remove too many regulations it allows a few bad actors to knock down the system (Great depression; 2008 crisis to name a few). Too much taxation/regulations and you stifle innovation - taxing at 139% should be obviously unsustainable. There, now the 'Bernie needs to watch' this, or 'Denmark isn't socialist', nonsense comments can be put to bed. You're welcome.
Travis Meyer no your wrong. Socialism is usually the workers or union or government control of the means of production. Without that it’s still capitalist since you own the means to produce invest and consume. Nordic countries are not socialist at all. Many aspects of the economy there markets are more free than the US.
I would love to see this translated to Portuguese, we really need this type of information in our language.
I wonder if Sweden has already figured out how to deal with advancements in AI and robotics displacing the country's workforce in the not too distant future.
1st and really big, even on the street scenes there is no visable ethinticity in the vid. USA Our home is white European, including Sweedes, native American, South American, (Euro and insidiousness) black from Africa Carribean and Middle East, Asian from every part of the rim, Korean, Japanese, Okinawan, Viet Nam, Twain, Chinese, Phillipeens, Australian, and Russian Croatian, Serbian, mid East Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran Turkey, Jordan Egypt and Jews. None of them, none, are of the same identity, mind set, or world view. We are clay and iron. Our weekness is simply people from everywhere. Want to keep Sweeden, than keep people out.
I find your innovative approach's to social engineering problems fascinating and far less tribal and hierarchal than those of North America. Your constructs have great value, and i am so pleased you shared them . Thank you. from Canada.
Every high school economics teacher should show this in their classroom!
Great documentary. I would hope our politicians here in America would watch and learn. Stop the character assassination politics and solve the problems.The mature look at the math was a great statement that We the people should demand.
The health care system in Sweden is roughly the same, government funded privately run hospitals and doctor offices, as what progressives in the US are proposing.
The reason for-profit private schools in Sweden works is the fact that in order to receive education vouchers they must have unbiased admissions (based only on the date of application) and be tuition free. This is not the model conservatives in the US are proposing where in the school would receive the voucher and still be allowed to charge tuition on top of that.
The reason Swedish workers don't need minimum wage laws is because of the incredibly high unionization rate, ~70% of the workforce is unionized, ~90% are covered by collective agreements. This high rate is facilitated by the Ghent system, where in workers have to belong to a union in order to receive union benefits, including unemployment benefits. Note this is the opposite of "right to work" laws.
A high value added tax (VAT) / sales tax does not burden the poor more if you have adequate welfare programs to give them the benefits from said taxes.
Despite reducing regulations and increasing privatization since the 1980s, Sweden is still way further left on both the economic spectrum and the political spectrum than the US. It seems like Sweden is going for a middle of the road approach between socialism and capitalism, and it seems to be working.
I think you are spot on (after living 10 years in Hallands län) this is the nuance that many commenters haven't quite gotten.
This is the most wholesome video I have seen in a while. It’s a film I believe all Americans should watch!
What a great documentary. There are some good takeaways. I think you are right, the extra-high taxes would be rejected in America. The idea of the voucher systems for schools and having schools dealt with at the local level is very encouraging, and there are many advocating for that here and getting the federal government out of the schools system. One of the biggest challenges we are facing here is over a half million homeless across the nation. I notice that Sweden's is around 6,000, despite the rather generous welfare system. I would think that would be near zero. What is the contributing factor for that there? And, have those numbers changed with the influx of refugees? I watched a documentary earlier and was very concerned about the increase in crime. My vision of Sweden has always been as a very clean, safe, peaceful place.
I love the cyclist airbag idea and I hope they are making strides in getting it introduced in the U.S. Despite our innovation at times we are reluctant for very bold new ideas. I do have one story to share. I was cycling a few years ago and had a standard foam-type helmet on. A rock truck passed me and kicked back a rock that took a 1" deep divot out of the front of my helmet just above the forehead. I was glad I had it, but there is a lot of discussion around as to whether the helmets are really as safe as they are promoted to be.
"As a Filipino, Sweden is one of my favorite European countries to visit and live in on all aspects and honestly my home country Philippines will be the next Venezuela in the next 10 years year 2030 !!!"
Balance is the Key for "prosperity" to as many as possible! I am left and this is right leaning but there are good points here in the current economic system we have.
"Perfectly balanced, as all things should be".
What a pleasure it was to watch this. Well done.
Wow. As an American capitalist, I knew the welfare system in Sweden was different than it was in US, But I didn't know it was.... Capitalist different. What a great system they have.
Since they are focusing on productivity, I am surprised that they take Capitalist ownership of the means of production for granted without ever addressing the benefits and drawbacks other productive arrangements, such as worker co-operatives and state-owned enterprises. Here in the US almost all of the real innovation in the sciences and technology happens in government institutions funded with public funds.
Sweden isn’t rich. Everyone who has relatives there knows that. Sweden didn’t rise up through communism, but rather a industrial revolution. I was told sweden was in fact not very communistic in the past, and blue views were dominating through this important time. This is probably why aftonbladet was shut down so many times. In those times taxes were lower in Sweden than in the USA. The swedish tax story is the most sad in the world. I understand swedes are still hyper taxed by employees fee and its still suffocating the economy in many ways. Tax oppression results in more stressed middle class, which is clearly the case in sweden. 1/8 of all working days people are too ill for work!
At first the government justified the hyper taxation by providing all educational, health and utility services. Since then most have been privatized but the taxes stay the same or higher than ever. Of course privatizing is very necessary with third world import so far out of control.
Please be nice to Sweden 😩
Yet another great documentary by Norberg. Thank you Sir!
"Socialist economy"...🤣....that's the same as calling a homeless shelter a "Central Bank"
Awesome education! Thank you for producing this.
Swedes are very entrepreneurial. I got a call on new year's day in the 90s from an anarcho-capitalist Swede (drunk btw) who was telling me about his (illegal) booze import business. Apparently, booze is highly taxed in Sweden, or at least, was then.
It's still heavily taxed, but i'm pretty sure there are a handful of countries that tax it higher (Australia for instance).
The swedish Staterun monopoly on booze is kind of interesting, sweden is the cheapest country to buy high quaility booze. Swedes travel to germany to buy cheap beer, Germans travel to sweden to buy high quality booze.
My cousin, Finn-Christian, of Skarnes, Norway, would drive us across the border to Karlstad, Sweden, to get alcohol. It was cheaper than Norway, though I preferred the Hansa that he had stashed in his basement. He wouldn't part with it, so we bought Lappland beer in Sweden, instead. Not as good, but drinkable. Being close to the border, he spoke Swedish quite well. He also picked up some spirits on the continent, since he could travel there for free, being buddies with several sea captains. In Karlstad, they had a big candy store the size of a warehouse. In the States, they only had "licorice flavor" licorice, so I was excited to see so much licorice in Sweden !!! My excitement turned to horror when I tasted Swedish licorice. It was all salted. I had to wash it down.
Unironically. Most progressives don’t actually want to be rid of capitalism. We simply don’t want it to run rampant at the expense of human life and health.
Sweden is a very good lesson for other countries, how to not handle immigration.
Sweden is being ..."Barbara Spectre'd"
th-cam.com/video/xHgWjBoFwY0/w-d-xo.html
My mother was born and raised in Ludvika, Sweden. She lived in Sweden until the age of 25 when she met my father (American) and moved to the U.S. Her blue eyes dance as she speaks with such love and reverence about growing up in central Sweden. It's good to know the facts about my mother's home country and why Sweden has enjoyed such a high standard of living and otherwise great place to live. Attributing Sweden's quality of life to socialist policies is nonsense, but you wouldn't know it listening to the idiot politicians here in the U.S. I wish the spirit of Anders Chydenius would manifest here in America; we would all be the better for it. Thanks for posting.
I can get down with the school vouchers, social security based on the economy, and deregulation in the business market
Until the school you wanted is full ! You must register at birth and hope they get to your number , that seems stupid to me . So a full list for good schools , someone is gonna lose out ! Yet pay the same in taxes but don't get the equal school .
Thanks for the video. I have learned a lot. God bless Sweden and America!
Bernie Sanders/other so-called 'progressives' need to watch this documentary.
you must be american? sweden has a paid allowance and free tuition for college and paid healthcare.
It's not a documentary and it's filled to the brim with half-truths and deception.
Very nice video, I like the fact that he is objective about the situation.
I showing a Bernie supporter this if they even mention "socialist sweden" it gets on my nerves
Keep at it. Socialism is a failure and it would be a shame if the US adopts it while confusing it with the nordic model.
Its democratic socialism you moron
@@MrRamazanLale2 socialism is socialism, communism without the gun pointed at your head
@@lynlee6861 lol
in my country of Malaysia , my state, Sarawak (it's the biggest state in Malaysia, located on the 3rd biggest island in the world - Borneo Island / East Malaysia) the state gov (we have gotten our autonomy back or we're trying to gain more back in relations to our constitution -- here's hoping) , the newly appointed Chief Minister has introduced to build 5 international English schools for the local students there (our education syllabus is governed by the federal gov) in the next few years to ensure that even the low-income bracket of the state can profit from an elevated education and potentially, in the future, these students can contribute to the state. the CM wants the state to be a tech-hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. The only thing that slowed down that progress is the pandemic but i believe, once that is curbed (hopefully), we can be as successful as what Sweden has accomplished.
Thank Sweden for setting up a role model of democracy with econ prosperity and human rights, which proves its superority to socialist dictatorships.
Thank Norberg for this informative and inspiring documentary.
Excellent documentary and the lessons are definitely not just for America but for the whole world.
Unfortunately, the sophistry of socialism will always be highly alluring to those who don't think very deeply. The statement made toward the end of the video is quite true but also an understatement, "It's not always intuitive why the free market economy is the best." It certainly wouldn't hurt if just a smidgen of K-12 teachers were willing and able to offer pro free market arguments when the opportunity presented itself. I, Pencil could be made required reading at a young age. I know, the howling would never stop if that simple measure were ever to be seriously proposed. Fascist and corrupting they would rage. It would be "disruptive" to the steady IV drip of political correctness. There is no telling what will happen politically in America if the economy turns down. Most K-12 public school teachers, having attended cultural Marxist universities and knowing little or nothing about economics, are pale reflections of AOC. We could easily end up with Sanders or someone similar.
Incredibly interesting, South Africa definitely needs this system!
Chydenius might have read or heard about "an/the invisible hand" as mentioned by Adam Smith in two books published prior to The Wealth of Nations.
REALLY WELL DONE! This American learned a lot!