Everyone thought the Nordic countries were the model for helping countries move from the welfare state to modern economic realities.  Privitization and tax-cutting went too far for Swedes.  Sweden still has eniable gender equality and functional democracy, but here, as in much of the world, inequality looms large.  Stefan Lofven the new prime minister says there are bad cracks in the system.

Swedish youth unemployment is at 22 %.  Norway’s and Germany’s youth unemplooyment is at around 8%.  Unemployment drives fears about the number of immigrants entering the country, as it does in the US.