Most Americans probably would say Swedes pay more income tax than they do. Also, many US consumer seem to believe they or perhaps the Swiss, the Norwegians or some Arab nation enjoys the highest purchasing power nation-wise.
I'm Swedish and I've been to the US, Switzerland and Norway.
I've also seen statistics on GDP/capita by PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) - and I'm well aware Sweden doesn't score very well in those ranks. But statistics are mere statistics and reality might tell a different story.
However, I've also studied Economics some and apart from the pleasures of exploring the architecture, social life and culinary traditions of places I visit on Earth, I very much enjoy learning about foreigners material standard of living.
So far, I've not discovered a single country boasting a higher standard of living than my nation. The fact that the average car in Sweden is the Volvo V70 (although few households over here dispose of two brand new ones) and the fact that most Swedish families own two homes (a house/condo in the city + a summer house in the countryside) is an unparalleled national triumph in the domain of standards of living.
Swedes today yet are heavily overtaxed and deserve to consume even more of Volvos, jacuzzis, lutefisk and trips abroad.
Y’mean the Swedes have found out that cutting taxes raises revenue? We’ll, I’ll be! AMAZING!!!!!
Hey Obie! Hey, Dingy Harry! Hey, IRS!!!!! Look! Cutting taxes raises revenue! Wow!
When you finish that lesson we’ll move on to the best healthcare system in the world and why you shouldn’t touch it.
Then we start on the Constitution and the Federalist Papers.