The parties are pouring billions into the election campaign to support voters' wallets. But many economists are critical. There is a downside to all the promises, says Madelén Falkenhäll, economist at Swedbank.
Swedish politicsThe election campaign is in full swing and politicians are luring voters with lower taxes and fuller wallets. But economists say that is the wrong focus and that households are doing well enough. It has become a competition over different kinds of candy that I honestly think voters are tired of, says economist John Hassler.
BusinessThe government's support for households and businesses in the form of electricity subsidies, reduced taxes on gasoline and diesel, and aid to the aviation industry is being criticized by prominent economists. "It is insane policy," says economist John Hassler regarding the electricity subsidies.
BusinessNordea, SBAB, Swedbank, Danske Bank - a series of major mortgage lenders - have raised fixed mortgage rates in recent days. Experts describe this as a result of the war premium that banks have to pay on their mortgage bonds after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
BusinessMunicipalities and regions that raise taxes will have to pay a fee - for three years. This is what a new investigation suggests. Paying this 25 percent will be a punishment, says investigator Annika Wallenskog at a press conference.
BusinessHow is it that we have had two hundred years of sustained economic growth? This is something that Joel Mokyr and Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt have answered in different ways in their research, for which they are now receiving the Economics Prize. It is about, among other things, "creative destruction".
BusinessThat the major banks have not lowered the mortgage rates as much as the Central Bank upsets the politicians. The leader of the Social Democrats Magdalena Andersson describes it as "damn it".
BusinessThe Tidö parties' budget initiative is larger than many had thought beforehand. The content is, however, far from what the Swedish economy needs, according to several assessors. It is an own goal, says Swedbank's chief economist Mattias Persson about the initiative that the government is missing according to him.
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