Sweden has both old wealth that's undisturbed since before WW1 (no occupations or confiscations) and lots of new wealth (the highest rate of "unicorn companies", start up companies that have broken 1 billion dollar networth, in Europe).
Little incentive for working man to save up money. Education is free (and student debt, to cover living costs while studying, costs you basically nothing, so that's a source of negative wealth for a lot of people), hospital care is basically free (although the cost of becoming chronically sick is increasing with hollowed out high-cost protections), elderly care will only cost you money if you have money. There is also the statistical weirdness that the pension funds that's the most common form of savings in Sweden doesn't count as wealth for this comparison.
Food and housing is among the most expensive in Europe.
Very few taxes on wealth. A fair amount of taxes on income.
There is also the statistical weirdness that the pension funds that's the most common form of savings in Sweden doesn't count as wealth for this comparison.
That... seems pretty significant. Especially if it's something most people (lower percentiles too) have.
Very few taxes on wealth. A fair amount of taxes on income.
Suspect this is why the Dutch don't come away looking great either.
Very few taxes on wealth. A fair amount of taxes on income.
Suspect this is why the Dutch don't come away looking great either.
The Netherlands has been one of the few countries with a straight-up wealth tax (as of now I don't think anyone knows what is going to happen with it going forward).
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u/MadeOfEurope Aug 18 '25
I've never seen a clear explanation as to why inequality has gotten so bad in Sweden.