On the growing gap between rich and poor in Sweden

New report on the growing gap between rich and poor in Sweden written by Mats Wingborg. The text is based on the anthology Class in Sweden: The inequality, Power and Politics in the 21st Century (Klass i Sverige: Ojämlikheten, makten och politiken i det 21: a århundradet) by Daniel Suhonen, Göran Therborn and Jesper Weithz.

Bild: woolzian/Getty Images Signature/Canva Pro

For German, see the German project page.

The objective of the much celebrated Swedish welfare state was to overcome the class society. However, waves of austerity, liberalization and deregulation policy have pushed this goal further afield. The gap between rich and poor in Sweden has deepened.

The reason for the development is not only globalization and structural change in the economy, but also domestic political decisions. The last 20 years, the upper income brackets have enjoyed substantial tax breaks, while the benefits of the tax-financed welfare state have been reduced. The unemployed, the long-term sick and pensioners have had to stand back. Social mobility has been hampered.

This report is based on the anthology Class in Sweden: The inequality, Power and Politics in the 21st Century (Klass i Sverige: Ojämlikheten, makten och politiken i det 21: a århundradet) by Daniel Suhonen, Göran Therborn and Jesper Weithz. An anthology that summarizes a comprehensive research project on the class-based society in Sweden, carried out by the independent, union-affiliated think tank Katalys in 2018.

About the Author:
The author and journalist Mats Wingborg has written several reports for among others the Swedish think tank Katalys on topics like the class-based society and the health care system.

Contact:
Josefin Fürst
josefin.furst(at)fes.de

No items found

Contact

FES Nordic Countries

Office/Postal Address
Barnhusgatan 10
111 23 Stockholm
Sweden

Contacts to our team!

Follow us on Social Media