The Local Sweden

How to tackle Sweden's ageing population

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 11:27:00 +0200

Sweden's ageing population is considered by some to be a ticking time bomb for the Swedish welfare model, but contributor Nima Sanandaji argues that we can afford a more optimistic view.

'Swedes need to save to tackle wealth disparity'

Tue, 20 May 2014 15:42:00 +0200

Uneven wealth distribution in Sweden can be put down in part to a lack of safe assets among individual Swedes, says liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji, who argues that politicians should encourage people to engage in investments to fight the disparity.

'Too few of Sweden's billionaires are self made'

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:20:00 +0200

The government has made the life of small business owners in Sweden easier, but there's a danger in thinking that those reforms also unlock the potential for true entrepreneurship, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

'Sweden's entry-level wages are too high'

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:37:00 +0100

A new report has blamed youth unemployment on Sweden's high entry-level salaries. Liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji says bringing Sweden's wage scale in line with other rich EU countries could boost employment opportunities.

Are Sweden's politicians capable of intellectual honesty?

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:41:00 +0100

Amid debates marked by cheap shots and misdirection, liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji wonders whether Swedish politicians are capable of honest, reasoned debate in an election year.

Echoes of Clinton in Social Democrats' welfare reform bid

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 09:16:00 +0100

The Social Democrats have proposed major changes to Sweden's welfare system, a move that reminds liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji of reforms enacted by former US President Bill Clinton.

Swedish welfare scandals call for profit review

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:24:00 +0100

While the recent scandal about unfair admissions practices at Sweden's free schools may be overblown, the revelations make it clear that the involvement of private players in Sweden's welfare sector needs to be improved, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

The paradox Sweden's 'lower' taxes - explained

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:23:00 +0200

Tax cuts have long been the hallmark of Sweden's Moderate Party. Why then, is the party no longer campaigning on a promise to reduce taxes further? Liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji explains.

'Education inflation' hurts Swedes' job prospects

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 18:00:00 +0200

While education is important to young Swedes' chances of finding work, more education does not necessarily translate into more success in the labour market, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

'Malmö needs a mayor like New York's Giuliani'

Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:40:00 +0200

Despite a wealth of resources, Malmö has yet to reach its full potential, says liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji, who argues the city needs a crime-fighting mayor in the mold of New York's former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

'Sweden needs to invest in science education'

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0200

Tax cuts and simple market-oriented reforms are not enough to help Sweden remain a competitive and innovative country, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

'Iranian pages' rings in integration in Sweden

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:43:00 +0200

Liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji explains how the Swedish-Iranian yellow pages helps the integration of the Iranian community, with almost two thirds of its children in higher education.

How Sweden can achieve income equality

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:15:00 +0200

As Sweden wrestles with a growing gap between low and high earners, liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji looks at which societal problems may be behind Sweden's rising income inequality and why the situation is unlikely to change.

'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:42:00 +0200

Media and politicians in Sweden need to do a better job explaining that not all discrimination is based on racism. There are ways people can overcome it to climb the social ladder, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

'Let's tell the truth about women's progress'

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:37:00 +0200

Political leaders in Sweden and elsewhere could do themselves and women a favour by sticking to the facts when beating the drum for gender equality, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

What India can teach Sweden about healthcare

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:23:00 +0200

As debate rages in Sweden about the role of private firms in the country's publicly-financed healthcare system, liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji suggests Swedes may find a solution inspired by an innovative heart surgeon from India.

'Citizens shouldn't pay for costs of long healthcare waiting times'

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Forcing public healthcare providers to pay fines for long waiting times, rather than leaving citizens to suffer, would help improve Sweden's public system, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji.

'Inflexible welfare model keeping young Swedes out of work'

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:15:00 +0100

An excessively rigid labour market is at the root of Sweden's high youth unemployment and helps explain the recent proliferation of young people in early retirement schemes, argues Nima Sanandaji, CEO of the Captus think tank.

Sweden lagging behind in equality for women professionals

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:06:00 +0100

Sweden's much-vaunted gender equality statistics do not stretch as far as the boardrooms of private companies, an area in which the country has fallen way off the international pace, argues Nima Sanandaji, president of the free market think tank Captus.

'Taxes still too high in Sweden'

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:58:00 +0100

Sweden's government needs to continue lowering taxes if the country is to get to grips with excessive public spending and an eroding work ethic, argues Nima Sanandaji.