ABSTRACT
Several years ago an English journalist described Swedes as being lazy, sick and totally unable to enjoy anything nice in life. In addition, Swedish cars are wrecks, Swedes dress sloppily and, if you do not want to work, you do not need to – but you are still fully paid. Finally, he described family policy in Sweden: ‘Just imagine a country where mothers as well as fathers can stay at home 13 months, with almost full pay after a baby is born, or a country where the state pays several thousand Euros for every child that goes to a day care centre – this would be totally impossible in Britain.’
