[WesternCulture]

To begin with, there are no really poor people in Sweden.

For instance, I’m poor by Swedish standards and I own a car that most Americans, Japanese, Britons and continental Europeans can’t afford, drink a lot of exclusive wines and can afford to rent a château in France or a grand villa in Italy when I go on holiday there.

Swedish wages are on a really nice level and taxes are not as high as most people seem to think. Some people over here are overtaxed, but no one is underpaid.

Another thing is that ‘poor’ Swedes and ‘rich’ Swedes often live in the same neighborhoods to a further extent than often is the case abroad (although there are ‘rich’ neighborhoods, like Djursholm in Stockholm where mostly dollar millionaires live). Because of this, relative prosperity as well as relative poverty is not as visible as it is in many other countries. To a certain extent, this might explain why Swedes don’t worry too much about appearing to be rich or not to other Swedes.

[alaskamomma]

Well...how wonderful to just...EXIST..and mean nothing else..sounds kinda sad really..

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Yeah, but the Swedes allow hordes of head-choppers into their formerly peaceful country. They murder and rape and demand special privileges. Until Sweden kicks them out, Sweden is off my list of places to visit.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Shouldn’t there be some kind or “rule” related to Swedish posts??? :)

[Welsh Rabbit]

While I'm not a fan of Sweden's style of government, I have always admired the Swedes (and Scandinavians in general) attitude towards work, wealth, and materialism (the concept of lagom, and all that). It's really very similar to own family's values. My dad is one of the wealthiest people I know, but my parents never played the game of keeping up with the Joneses and purposely avoided any ostentatious displays of wealth. I make a pretty modest salary but have a higher quality of life than a lot of my friends who make more money because I drive a car I can actually afford outright and I bought a smaller house in an older neighborhood. As a result, I have no debt and a lot more disposable income, although the only thing I really indulge in is wine and dining out.

The biggest social faux-pas in Sweden was to have a childminder or cleaner and pay them under the table. In Russia and the US, having IKEA furniture was near the bottom of the list at 98, while Swedes put this at 73.

IKEA stuff is good for young adults, but once I was in my late twenties, I felt my IKEA decor wasn't sending out the message that a mature adult lived in my place.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"Sweden is the only country where you can be penniless but well-read and still have the highest status in the neighbourhood. General financial security means that things like a good education and being a good parent are seen more as something to aim for," said Marie Söderqvist Tralau, analyst at United Minds.

Said Marie Söderqvist Tralau, without a hint of bias.

[Charles Henrickson]

Ping to the Swedish Ping List.

[RightWhale]

American schoolkids are 23 out of 30 in math/science among industrialized countries.

[G8 Diplomat]

Americans spurn education but value bling?

Yep.

[RogerFGay]

It would be quite foolish to move from the US to Sweden with the expectation that it would increase your standard of living. The utopian description that there are no poor people here, that everyone has a high standard of living, that taxes are not a problem, etc. is a myth; and not a very popular one. I have not seen such a claim anywhere except here at freerepublic, and here only from one person.

[RockinRight]

Being broke need not mean social death in Sweden - as long as you are well-educated. But for Americans and Russians having a good all-round education is no substitute for having cash, according to a new survey on status symbols in the three countries.

To me, the whole point of getting higher education is to NOT be broke.

[RockinRight]

Being broke need not mean social death in Sweden - as long as you are well-educated. But for Americans and Russians having a good all-round education is no substitute for having cash, according to a new survey on status symbols in the three countries.

To me, the whole point of getting higher education is to NOT be broke.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

bump to self...