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Sweden's turn to economic inequality, 1982–2019

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  • Therborn, Göran

Abstract

In 1980 Sweden was probably the least unequal country of the world, but as part of the international turn of the centres of capitalism Sweden became one of the European frontrunners of economic unequalization. How did this happen? The turn of increasing inequality and a large part of its process 1980–2019 have occurred under Social Democratic governments. How could Social Democracy become a vehicle of unequalization? This paper provides a comparative empirical overview of the rise of inequality in Sweden since 1980, and a political sociological analysis of the process of distributive change, relating crucial economic crises and emergent financialized post-industrialism to the crisis perceptions, politics and policies of the leading politicians in a context of generational change and a new ideological climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Therborn, Göran, 2020. "Sweden's turn to economic inequality, 1982–2019," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 159-166.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:52:y:2020:i:c:p:159-166
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2019.10.005
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    1. Erik Bengtsson, 2014. "Do unions redistribute income from capital to labour? Union density and wage shares since 1960," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 389-408, September.
    2. Crouch, Colin, 2019. "Inequality in post-industrial societies," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 11-23.
    3. Roine, Jesper & Waldenstrom, Daniel, 2008. "The evolution of top incomes in an egalitarian society: Sweden, 1903-2004," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-2), pages 366-387, February.
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    1. Della Porta, Donatella & Galbraith, James & Pianta, Mario, 2022. "Introduction to the special issue ‘The political consequences of inequality’," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 389-390.
    2. Buendía, Luis & Barredo, Juan & Balay, Juan, 2022. "Foreign sector and welfare state in Sweden: From complementarity to tensions," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 310-319.
    3. Porta, Donatella Della & Portos, Martín, 2020. "Social movements in times of inequalities: Struggling against austerity in Europe," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 116-126.

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