• [ network ]
  • goatmatrix.net
  • gvid.tv
  • img.gvid.tv
  • games.gvid.tv
  • apps.gvid.tv
HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Sweden: A Supermodel for America?

Views:1086
@ReasonVids

To the American mind there may be nothing more quintessentially Swedish than the leggy, blond supermodel.

But there's another Swedish model that inspires almost as much admiration—the Swedish economic model. With a generous welfare state and high living standards, Sweden seems to prove that socialism works. Much of the hope that swept Barack Obama into the White House rests on the belief that America could reach new heights under a regime of enlightened progressivism, that we could be more like the Swedes.

Not so fast, warns Stockholm University sociologist Charlotta Stern: "If an American told me that the US should be more like Sweden I would say I don't think it's possible." The United States can centralize its health care system and pass other laws that mimic Sweden's welfare state polices, says Stern, but it's impossible to replicate a culture that allows those policies to operate about as smoothly as possible. Swedish bureaucracies inspire trust, but their American counterparts (DMV, TSA, IRS) inspire punch lines, if not outrage.

But America could emulate some of the Swedish policies that don't require extensive bureaucracies. Take school vouchers. Teachers unions in America regard the idea as free-market radicalism, but families in Sweden enjoy universal school choice. Sweden adopted its famously progressive policies during the 1970s, but after years of sluggish economic growth the land of ABBA altered its course in the 1990s, adopting a host of free-market reforms, from deregulation to tax cuts.

Although much of the disco-era welfare state remains, economist Andreas Bergh credits the free market reforms with reviving his nation's economy. "Sweden is moving in the market economic direction," says Bergh, "but that does not mean America should be moving in the socialist direction."

What if the two nations continue on in different directions? Maybe some day when America is looking for a way to rejuvenate its economy, pundits will point to a different kind of Swedish model. One that increases individual choice and competition.

"Sweden—A Supermodel for America?" is produced by Daniel B. Klein, and written and produced by Ted Balaker, who also hosts. Shot by Jonathan Liberman and Henrik Devell, with additional production support by Zach Weissmueller and Sam Corcos and post production by Hawk Jensen and Austin Bragg. Special thanks to Niclas Berggren, Martin Borgs, Nils Karlson, and the Ratio Institute.

Approximately 6.00 long.

Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable iPod, HD, and audio versions of this and all our videos, and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

reason.tv
,
reason.com
,
reason.org
,
reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
libertarian
,
sweden
,
victoria silvstedt
,
socialism
,
school vouchers
,
charlotta stern
,
andreas bergh
,
ted balaker
,
hawk jensen
    Thumbnail for Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker on The Federal Fiscal Crisis9:54
    Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker on The Federal Fiscal Crisis
    ReasonVids
    922 views
    Thumbnail for 4/29 令和デビュー | 令和デビュー2:15:41
    4/29 令和デビュー | 令和デビュー
    invidious
    91 views
    Thumbnail for 20 Revenants vs 20 Arch-viles - Monster Infighting - Doom II Retro Battles | GG Retro Battles7:53
    20 Revenants vs 20 Arch-viles - Monster Infighting - Doom II Retro Battles | GG Retro Battles
    invidious
    639 views
    Thumbnail for Atlas Arms | The Dagny Dagger4:37
    Atlas Arms | The Dagny Dagger
    3dpew
    933 views
    Thumbnail for Russian comedians mocking the diversity agenda (in english)9:37
    Russian comedians mocking the diversity agenda (in english)
    AOU
    1237 views
    Thumbnail for Dear autocorrect at no point in time did I EVER want to spell “maggot” | FunnyMemeSpot Backup0:05
    Dear autocorrect at no point in time did I EVER want to spell “maggot” | FunnyMemeSpot Backup
    Invidious2
    29 views
    Thumbnail for Drone strikes in Yemen -- yay or nay?1:59
    Drone strikes in Yemen -- yay or nay?
    ReasonVids
    994 views
    Thumbnail for Scientists Warn Deadly Fungi Infecting Humans | Dr Ben Miles1:24
    Scientists Warn Deadly Fungi Infecting Humans | Dr Ben Miles
    invidious
    128 views
    Thumbnail for Liquid Sand Hot Tub- Fluidized air bed9:09
    Liquid Sand Hot Tub- Fluidized air bed
    science.topic
    139 views
    Thumbnail for The Obsolete man3:38
    The Obsolete man
    bestofpoal
    1750 views
    Thumbnail for What Was on Bin Laden's Hard Drive? | fern18:54
    What Was on Bin Laden's Hard Drive? | fern
    invidious
    194 views
    Thumbnail for Classified Moon Landing Footage Released...0:34
    Classified Moon Landing Footage Released...
    AOU
    1198 views
    Thumbnail for 🚔 Police Showed Up to Arrest...and 🇨🇦CANADIANS 🇨🇦 did this..2:15
    🚔 Police Showed Up to Arrest...and 🇨🇦CANADIANS 🇨🇦 did this..
    AOU
    1772 views
    Thumbnail for How To Run From a Drone | Action Lab Shorts1:00
    How To Run From a Drone | Action Lab Shorts
    invidious
    380 views
    Thumbnail for The Only Way Of Reversing The Wef Agenda's Is By Activating The Military/police To Join Our Cause0:34
    The Only Way Of Reversing The Wef Agenda's Is By Activating The Military/police To Join Our Cause
    bestofsaidit
    752 views
    Thumbnail for Flemish For Dummies 1: Introduction! | Flemish For Dummies2:06
    Flemish For Dummies 1: Introduction! | Flemish For Dummies
    invidious
    311 views
    Thumbnail for niggers dont get the joke0:08
    niggers dont get the joke
    bestofupgoat
    461 views
    Thumbnail for cyclops1771 wanting the kids off his sandy lawn0:35
    cyclops1771 wanting the kids off his sandy lawn
    voatcatbox
    545 views
    Thumbnail for dirtywhiteboy at the tiny ball game0:39
    dirtywhiteboy at the tiny ball game
    bestofupgoat
    129 views
    Thumbnail for " its just a coincidence" Trust Me I'm A Doctor with a girl's name2:20
    " its just a coincidence" Trust Me I'm A Doctor with a girl's name
    AOU
    1078 views
    Thumbnail for Amusing Accident In The Land Of The Street Shit. Jeet Sent Flying & Breaks Fall On Jeet0:22
    Amusing Accident In The Land Of The Street Shit. Jeet Sent Flying & Breaks Fall On Jeet
    bestofupgoat
    167 views
    Thumbnail for 🔴LIVE Bakersfield CA - Viewer Discretion is Advised 05/21 | Dad’s Gone Live6:07:40
    🔴LIVE Bakersfield CA - Viewer Discretion is Advised 05/21 | Dad’s Gone Live
    invidious
    164 views
    Thumbnail for Let's check in on the trucker strike in Australia: It's going as expected. American truckers and supporters, you have a lot of power and could easily end vaccine mandates in these urban cities for good.0:43
    Let's check in on the trucker strike in Australia: It's going as expected. American truckers and supporters, you have a lot of power and could easily end vaccine mandates in these urban cities for good.
    AOU
    2149 views
    Thumbnail for Kids Explain Gay Marriage | Jimmy Kimmel Live3:03
    Kids Explain Gay Marriage | Jimmy Kimmel Live
    invidious
    401 views
    Thumbnail for The best German drink! | Uyen Ninh0:14
    The best German drink! | Uyen Ninh
    invidious
    282 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason.tv
,
reason.com
,
reason.org
,
reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
libertarian
,
sweden
,
victoria silvstedt
,
socialism
,
school vouchers
,
charlotta stern
,
andreas bergh
,
ted balaker
,
hawk jensen
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle