"My personal, balanced assessment is that the arguments for joining the euro have been strengthened," writes Professor Lars Calmfors, chairman of the 14 economists and political scientists who compiled the report.
Calmfor's summary thus ends in a yes to the European currency, but these conclusions do not need to be shared by the other report authors, he notes.
Are there disadvantages?
The disadvantages still remain from the last time the Swedish people voted no to the euro in 2003, that Sweden will find it more difficult to pursue its own interest rate policy if we end up in a different economic situation than the euro area.
"But the disadvantage is much smaller than before. The Swedish economy has become more synchronized with that of the euro area," writes Calmfors, who has become more euro-friendly over time and who already chaired a similar euro inquiry in 1996.
On the other hand, the risk that Sweden will have to pay for other countries' high national debts has increased, according to him.
Ingves is for
Former Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves is also in favor of the euro. And there should be no problem for Sweden to join.
"We can join without major difficulties and the arguments for standing outside are becoming increasingly difficult to find," Ingves writes in the report.
Currently, the issue is not particularly hot on the political parties' agenda. If politicians do decide to move forward with the issue, it should be done via a referendum, according to Calmfors and political scientist Johannes Lindvall, the latter noting that the legitimacy of EU membership was strengthened in connection with the euro referendum over 20 years ago.
“It would be unwise to risk that balance by going against the 2003 referendum result twenty years later. If the euro issue becomes relevant again, the goal should instead be to hold a referendum that works as well as the 2003 vote – or better,” writes Johannes Lindvall.
