Politics (Sweden) – Economy (and taxes) politics

The Swedish election is getting closer and I still know too little about the different parties. I'm doing my best to compare the different parties in some important topics so when it is time, I will vote consciously. This article will be about "Economy politics".

Photo by Pau Casals on Unsplash

I have chosen to look at each party's website where the party's vision and policies are laid out. In my opinion, these websites are the first place a voter should go to find the information they need to make an informed decision on September 9. 

The Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna): 

  • Believe the taxes in Sweden are too high and want people to keep more of their salary. They think that swedes should pay 200 kr less per month in taxes.
  • Want to remove the retirement tax. "People who have worked their whole life should not pay more taxes than the people who are working today".
  • Believes that too many people pay "State taxes" and therefore want to raise the breaking point so fewer people pay tax from 2019. (Read about "State tax" in the end of this article)*.
  • Want to make it easier for smaller companies by introducing "more competitive taxes". 



Liberals (Liberalerna, tidigare Folkpartiet):
  • Believe that fewer people should pay State taxes. 
  • Want to remove austerity taxes.
  • Want to lower the taxes for older people who choose to keep on working.
  • Want to make it more affordable and easier for businesses to hire people. Introduce "Entry jobs" (a form of apprenticeship).
  • Want to lower the taxes for people who move homes and also lower the amortisation requirements (spreading loan repayments over multiple periods).
  • Want to introduce tax free savings on investment saving accounts – applies up to 100 000 kr .



Green Party (Miljöpartiet):
  • Want to lower the taxes for smaller companies.
  • Want to raise the taxes on environmental degradation.
  • Want to lower the taxes on the industries that are good for the environment, example: recycling, second hand and repairs.
  • Want to promote economic equality between genders and different groups in the society.



 Left Party (Vänsterpartiet):
  • Believes that the tax system today is only benefiting the rich.
  • Want to lower the wealth gap in the society by having higher income earners pay higher taxes.
  • Believes that smaller business pay more taxes than profitable multinational corporations, and believes this is wrong.



Moderate Party (Moderaterna):
  • Want to lower the contribution costs.
  • Want to lower the taxes for the people who work, especially for the ones with lower incomes.
  • Believes that fewer people should pay State taxes. 
  • Want to introduce "Entry jobs" (a form of apprenticeship).
  • Want to replace the existing salary support to newly arrivals and long-term unemployeds with a new support that will make it much easier for people to get their first job.



Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna): 

  • Lower the taxes for smaller companies.
  • Want to "strengthen the welfare with retained freedom".
  • Believes in a balance between interests, based on rationality, free from ideological shadows.



Social Democratic (Socialdemokraterna):
  • Want to increase the number of workers and the amount of work hours within the economy by 2020, so that Sweden will have the lowest unemployment in EU. 
  • Want to minimise the economic gap between people born in and outside the Swedish boarders.
  • Want to prioritise the welfare of the Swedish society before lowering taxes. Invest in railways, residences, education, research and security that will benefit everyone.
  • Want to remove the retirement tax.



Centre Party (Centerpartiet):
  • Want to make it cheaper and easier to hire people.
  • Want to repair/improve and build the infrastructure so the whole country can grow.
  • Want to lower the taxes "for people who work". 
  • Want to raise the taxes on environmental degradation.
  • Want to keep lowering the taxes for retired people. 
  • Believes that fewer people should pay State taxes. 



On this topic I feel that we can clearly see which parties have social interests and which have corporate interests in mind.

*State tax: When a person earns more than 38 200 kr per month, which is 458 800 kr per year, he/she shall pay a state tax. One reason for this has been to minimise the clashes in the Swedish society.



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