I thought some might find this interesting. " But Sweden has many characteristics that don't fit into the socialist stereotype. For example, Sweden is one of the world's most market-oriented countries, and has nationalized few companies. Production is run by the private sector, and the bank system is the second-most efficient in the world, according to a 2008 survey by the World Economic Forum. Sweden is also a fervent free-trade champion, which partly explains how companies like Volvo, IKEA and H&M have been able to grow into leading multinationals..." 'Stockholm Syndrome': Why is the U.S. Afraid of Sweden? - ABC News
Visiting her friend and making plans to explore the city / think about locating there too. But she is a hardcore socialist.
The interesting thing is that I've noticed that many free marketers and American liberals both assume Sweden is more "socialist" than it actually is. Free marketers diss Sweden for being the face of European socialism and many American liberals think it's a good thing that Sweden is "socialist".
Interesting observation. This is probably due to the somewhat unstable currency they'd had in their markets recently, but a strong dollar in an emerging industrial economy was never bad for anyone.
Sweden's corporate tax rate at 26% is lower than the U.S (38%). That's not counting the loop holes though. Their highest tax rate for the individual is 57% which is lower than the U.S during the 1970's.
There's two kinds of socialist big government - big tax and spend socialism, and state owned industry socialism. State owned industry socialism is pretty much out of style, there are some countries where it is a legacy of a previous era but few countries are nationalising industry as a deliberate policy, outside of maybe Venezeula and Russia to name two. Tax and spend (big social programs) socialism is alive and well especially in Europe.
Social Security is in trouble because of the Baby Boomers and efforts by the Republicans to destroy it. Medicare is having problems because we treat disease instead of health. Also, the Republicans gave the drug companies a big chunk of it's funding with the no bid senior drug bill under Lord Bush.