Re: Sweden

[larson@xxxxxx (S R Larsson)]

>     Just two points.  One is that the peak of "everything
>being good" in the early 80s also coincides with the end of
>the nationwide collective bargaining that had been around
>since 1938.  It ended in 1983.  I note that this means that
>Sweden has not been part of the recent "corporatist
>revival" that includes places like the Netherlands,
>Austria, and Norway, all of which are in better shape these
>days than Sweden.  I would also claim that this is a
>variant on incomes policies and hence very Post Keynesian.
>     The other point is to claim that there are some older
>economists in some provincial institutions who remain
>Keynesian to varying degrees.  However they are by and
>large keeping their heads down out of genuine fear and
>loathing of Lindbeck who does seem to exert an awesome and
>awful power over Swedish economic academia.  I also think
>that some of the economists associated with the trade
>unions are not so bad.  But, I think I'll not name any
>names for fear of getting people in trouble...
>Barkley Rosser

Basically I agree with Barkley's view of keynesianism in Swedish academic
institutions, but I think that the number of those keeping their hands down
is quite small. Reason: too many earned their doctor's degree and/or got
their positions after, say, 1979.

His points about the labor union economists are also very much true. E.g.,
the FIEF (trade union funded economic research institute) has deteriorated
into a place where people try to figure out why wages are sticky and what
to do about it.

Personally I feel quite bad about what has happened to my country.
Professionally I see a challenge in it: there is a world out there where I
can work and develop my skills. The only problem is whether I should use my
professional career to tell the world what has happened to Sweden, or try
to forget all about it and assimilate myself into a new community. The
latter is much more tempting and rewarding, especially since writing about
Sweden awakens a bit of an emotional stress.

I hope others, like Barkley, can keep an eye on Sweden to make sure things
just don't get completely out of hand. That country needs it.


/srl

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Sven Robert Larsson
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