2021 Indexofeconomicfreedom-Sweden.Pdf
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SWEDEN weden’s economic freedom score is 74.7, making its economy the S 21st freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has decreased by 0.2 point, primarily because of a decline in trade freedom. Sweden is ranked 12th among 45 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is WORLD RANK: REGIONAL RANK: above the regional and world averages. 21 12 The Swedish economy has been rated mostly free for more than a ECONOMIC FREEDOM STATUS: decade. The two biggest drags on Sweden’s economic freedom continue MOSTLY FREE to be very heavy taxation and very high government spending. On the other hand, the country’s scores on the Index rule-of-law indicators (property rights, judicial effectiveness, and government integrity) are among the highest in the world. IMPACT OF COVID-19: As of December 1, 2020, 6,798 deaths had been attributed to the pandemic in Sweden, and the economy was forecast to contract by 4.7 percent for the year. ECONOMIC FREEDOM SCORE ▼ DOWN 0.2 POINT 74.7 0 50 60 70 80 100 REGIONAL WORLD AVERAGE AVERAGE 61.6 70.1 (EUROPE REGION) HISTORICAL INDEX SCORE CHANGE (SINCE 1995): +13.3 RECENT FREEDOM TREND QUICK FACTS POPULATION: UNEMPLOYMENT: 10.3 million 6.5% 76.3 GDP (PPP): INFLATION (CPI): 74.9 75.2 74.9 74.7 $564.8 billion 1.7% 1.2% growth in 2019 5-year compound FDI INFLOW: $20.6 billion annual growth 2.5% $55,815 per capita PUBLIC DEBT: 34.8% of GDP 2019 data unless otherwise noted. Data compiled as of September 2020 BACKGROUND: Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, but voters rejected adoption of the euro in 2003. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven was able to form a minority center-left Social Democratic Party–Green Party governing coalition in January 2019 despite a poor showing in the September 2018 elections and months of stalemate. The populist Sweden Democrats party, campaigning to restrict immigration, placed third in the elections. The influx of large numbers of migrants since 2015, a terrorist attack in 2017, and rising gang violence have made immigration a central issue, and the ongoing formulation of a new migra- tion policy has significant political implications. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of a vibrant and outwardly oriented manufacturing-based economy. 390 2021 Index of Economic Freedom WORLD AVERAGE | ONE-YEAR SCORE CHANGE IN PARENTHESES 12 ECONOMIC FREEDOMS | SWEDEN RULE OF LAW GOVERNMENT SIZE (–2.2) (–0.8) (+1.1) (No change) (+3.7) (+0.6) 86.6 79.1 92.5 43.6 29.5 97.6 Property Judicial Government Tax Government Fiscal Rights E ectiveness Integrity Burden Spending Health Real and intellectual property rights are well protected. The top individual income tax rate is 57 percent, and the top Enforcement of contracts is very well established, and the corporate tax rate has been cut to 21.4 percent. Other taxes rule of law is well maintained. The judicial system operates include value-added and capital gains taxes. The overall independently, impartially, and consistently. Deregulation, tax burden equals 43.9 percent of total domestic income. budgetary self-restraint, and a stable political environment Government spending has amounted to 48.5 percent of total encourage low rates of corruption. Effective anticorruption output (GDP) over the past three years, and budget surpluses measures discourage bribery of public officials and foster have averaged 0.9 percent of GDP. Public debt is equivalent government integrity. to 34.8 percent of GDP. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY OPEN MARKETS (–2.1) (+0.1) (+0.3) (–2.4) (No change) (No change) 83.2 53.9 81.5 84.0 85.0 80.0 Business Labor Monetary Trade Investment Financial Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Starting a business has become more complicated and now As a member of the EU, Sweden has 45 preferential trade takes longer on average. Business freedom remains high, but agreements in force. The trade-weighted average tariff scores have fallen from previous levels. Rigid labor legislation rate (common among EU members) is 3 percent, with and regulations and the high cost of labor limit labor freedom. 639 EU-mandated nontariff measures in force. Sweden There are few price controls, but the government provides has an additional eight country-specific nontariff barriers. significant subsidies to encourage renewable energy and Open-market policies that sustain competitiveness facilitate increased its subsidies for solar power in 2019. large flows of investment. Financial services are well institu- tionalized throughout the country. The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Index 391.