Sweden: Could it have been a model for Michigan?

Business goes to Sweden because of its amazing metal scene

“Yes, I’ve been there. It has approximately the same population as Sweden, and approximately the same GDP.”

I became instantly depressed as I realized that he was absolutely right. The similarities between Sweden and Michigan are vast. Both are cold areas surrounded by water and both are sufficiently blessed with natural and human resources to support a deep manufacturing sector.

By no coincidence at all, both areas are full of people of Swedish decent.

However, despite having similar social, natural and economic bases, the differences between Sweden and Michigan are immense. In contrast to Michigan, all Swedes have health insurance. In contrast to Michigan, all Swedes have heat. In contrast to Michigan, all Swedes have the right to political representation. Foreigners are even allowed to vote in local elections. In contrast to Michigan, the large majority of Swedes have jobs that allow them to live a healthy middle class existence.

Most importantly, in contrast to Michigan, Sweden has one of the most active, dynamic and vibrant economies on the planet. In fact, riding in from the airport, one sees the headquarters of companies one would expect to see in a place like Michigan, world class manufacturing and tech companies that are all employing Swedes. In fact, Sweden is desperate for labor to support its booming economy. If you have any type of skill, there’s a job in Sweden waiting for you.

Sweden is the most economically equal country on the planet. The Gini coefficient for Sweden in .23 vs. Michigan’s depressing .45, the same as that of Bulgaria or Guyana.

Sweden has some of the highest taxes on the planet. A full half of income can be sent to the Swedish Tax Service. Sales taxes top 25% for most items. Alcohol is taxed at 100%. Taxes make up nearly half of Sweden’s GDP.

It’s a Republican’s nightmare. High taxes, high regulation, high levels of market distorting subsidies on food and public services, heavy rules on public behavior and heavy rules on wages and working conditions. It’s Ron Paul’s worst case scenario.

Despite this, Sweden has one of the most exciting economies on the planet. It is one of the most pro-business places I’ve ever been.

Contrary to Republican logic, this is due, in large part, to guarantees of government provided guarantees of quality health care for all that relieve businesses of having to bear responsibility for creating insurance plans. If the large number of boutique vinyl shops all over Stockholm are any indication, anyone can start a small business in Sweden. In America, one has to do without health insurance to start a business, a risk that only the wealthiest can bear.

In Sweden, like health care, pensions and unemployment insurance are funded through citizen contributions. This means that private businesses don’t run into the problem of becoming bankrupt when they lack money to fund their pension plans.

The Swedes are highly educated and healthy. This means that foreign businesses wanting to set up shop in Sweden have a vast pool of highly educated and able potential workers to draw from. In fact, Sweden’s biggest problem right seems to be that it lacks UNskilled service workers.

All of this is in contrast to the disastrous situation of Michigan, where we have gutted public education to the point where we have one of the highest drop out rates in the country. We get stupider by the day. Nearly 15% of Michiganders lack access to health insurance. Michigan workers are too sick and too uneducated to meaningfully contribute to the economy. Worse yet, the recent installation of emergency financial managers has erased any potential for improvement. Nearly half (note: the poorest half) of Michigan lacks political representation in 2012, clearly a dream come true for Republicans everywhere.

Why would any business come to a place like Michigan?

Mostly, I’ve returned depressed. Michigan had its chance and it blew it. Exactly why do I live here?