The World’s Most Innovative Economies

Re:The World’s Most Innovative Economies by OskarS on Tuesday January 17, 2017 @08:20AM (#13417215)

I'm speaking in aggregates, certainly, different people will have different values. But the idea is generally true, and it is backed by studies measuring values.

In addition, this was an explicitly stated goal in the creation of the Swedish welfare state. The Social Democratic "philosophy" underlying it goes by the name of "Folkhemmet"[1], "the people's home". The idea is that in order to progress to a more modern economy, the state should take over the more traditional support systems previously provided by family/community/religion/etc. when it comes to things like healthcare, education and taking care of the poor.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folkhemmet

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Re:The World’s Most Innovative Economies by sebcat on Tuesday January 17, 2017 @12:36PM (#13419380)

I guess my problem is with your use of terms like "the Swedish mindset", or "we [Swedes] believe". You are generalizing a lot.

Folkhemmet has German roots (Volksgemeinschaft) and can be traced back to the ideas of Bismarck[1]. It was a social reform. One can compare it to FDRs "New Deal". It is in this context it makes sense. It does not make sense to explain what "we [Swedes] believe" or "the Swedish mindset". You're basically equating social democratic policy from 1930-1970(ish) with being Swedish. There are a lot of people living in Sweden who do not subscribe to these ideas (myself included).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck#Social_legis...

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