Publications
Publications
- June 2022 (Revised November 2022)
- HBS Case Collection
The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Sweden's Utopia at a Crossroads
By: Debora L. Spar and Julia M. Comeau
Abstract
Sweden’s model of capitalism rests on a unique social contract, in which social welfare priorities can co-exist within a vibrant capitalist system. In 2022, however, contemporary pressures were growing on the traditional Swedish model, including mounting calls for privatization of the welfare system and political backlash surrounding the country’s immigration policy. This case examines the long-term sustainability of the Swedish model, and the extent to which it is (or is not) transferrable to other political contexts and nation states.
Keywords
Capitalism; Social Welfare; Policy; Privatization; Immigration; Social Issues; Civil Society or Community; Government and Politics; Sweden
Citation
Spar, Debora L., and Julia M. Comeau. "The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Sweden's Utopia at a Crossroads." Harvard Business School Case 322-046, June 2022. (Revised November 2022.)