How likely is Sweden? Unlikely
Taking the average to extremes.
Most countries make sense. You kind of understand why they are the way they are and why the people do the things they do. Not Sweden.
Sweden is a nation of extremists. It is just that the people are extremely average. Pathologically average. And what these extremists hate more than anything else is confrontation. Try to get into an argument, even a mild debate, with a Swede and you will discover that you have unwittingly made someone feel distinctly uncomfortable. How did such an unlikely bunch of people arise?
The national character is summed up in the Swedish word “lagom” — not too much, not too little. Just right. In social situations this means “blending in appropriately without extreme displays of emotion”.
This week, a Swedish blog, Sociala Medier, published 25 world maps and statistics showing exactly how unlikely Sweden is. The answer is very unlikely indeed. Sweden may well be the most unlikely country on Earth.
For a nation that defines itself in terms of its proximity to the middle you can imagine obesity is less of a significant problem than in other nations. With its high taxes it is difficult to become rich in Sweden, but the counterpart is, it is difficult to be poor. Subsequently, crime is very low. According to the Economist it is the most equal country on Earth.
Sweden has fewer gender disparities than most other nations in terms of economic opportunities, political influence, education and health. It is ranked in first place for its good treatment of the elderly. It has a ridiculously high number of researchers per capita, and similarly patents. Skype, Spotify, IKEA: This place is an innovation engine. Sweden is in the top five of the BCG Global Innovation Index. I blame the coffee, served bitter and strong. One cup and you will have the alertness of a teenager on industrial quantities of stimulants. Swedes compete for the highest coffee consumption per capita.
In the “Failed State” index Sweden ranks second best. This is a good thing. And Sweden is one of just 22 countries that Britain has not invaded. This must be a good thing. Perhaps there is no connection, but Sweden is calculated to be one of the world’s happiest countries.
When it comes to families, there is a direct link to happiness. Families matter in Sweden. Alcohol and taxis are exhorbitantly expensive. But if you want to do something with the family, many activities are free. You’d struggle to find a better place to raise children. If you work in Sweden you are entitled to 480 days paid parental leave. We (me, my wife and our two children) moved to Stockholm in 2009.
Charles Darwin showed us that species need variations between individuals because the environment is constantly changing and adaptation is necessary for survival. A species needs some risk takers who are willing to strike out and move to new areas should catastrophe strike. Likewise, some individuals are required with a conservative outlook who want nothing more than to stay put. They, of course, will survive should the risk-takers take one too many risks. Perhaps a similar rule applies to cultures. We need variety to survive.
Perhaps as the world grapples with issues like climate change the Swedish character may turn out to be a guiding light. The culture of lagom is a culture celebrating, and demanding, equality. More equality leads to less materialism. And, Swedes value collective responsibility — this is a direct result of living in a more equal society. With more collective responsibility people recycle more, produce less waste and have smaller carbon footprints.
Collective responsibility is a necessity for our species to survive in the Anthropocene. Equally, the world needs innovative solutions to some of the most intractable problems. More equal societies tend to have a higher level of patents per capita, possibly because of more efficient use of human capital. Sweden is responsible for some of the most innovative companies in the world — IKEA, Spotify, Skype and H&M.
So, as unlikely as Sweden is, and it is pretty much the most unlikely place on Earth, we need you.
