Sweden is holding an election on Sunday, which earned it a bit of ink in the Times. The article notes that Sweden�s official unemployment rate of 5.7 percent is one of the lowest ones in Europe. It then reports the assertion of the conservative opposition candidate that its unemployment rate would be 21 percent if you add in people on disability, early retirement and in government training programs.
It would be helpful if the article provided some evidence to readers to better allow them to assess the truth of this claim. Politicians are known to say things that are not true. Serious reporters do not just report one claim and then a denial. (e.g. Democrats oppose President Bush they claim he is mass murderer. The president denies the allegation.)
It is not even clear what the 21 percent figure is intended to refer to. (Does it count every retiree in Sweden as being unemployed?) The OECD does make an effort to standardize measures of employment and unemployment. It reports that the employment rate in Sweden for people between the ages 15 and 64 is 73.5 percent. This compares to 71.5 percent in the United States. This would have been useful information for readers trying to assess competing claims about Sweden�s unemployment problem.
I’m writing to you today with a sense of urgency that I haven’t felt since I began my journalism career. As executive editor of The American Prospect, I’ve witnessed firsthand how independent journalism serves as a crucial bulwark against the erosion of our democratic institutions. Today, that role is more vital than ever. Can you step up today and show your support?
The winds of authoritarianism are blowing stronger. We’re seeing alarming signs of a coordinated effort to silence critical voices and undermine the very foundations that support progressive causes. As Bob Kuttner presciently wrote in our August 2024 issue, a weaponized IRS could attack the very foundations of the progressive movement. We need readers to step up and help us dig in for the long haul.
We’re falling behind in our spring fundraising campaign, and with so much at stake we can’t afford to come up short. If you value fearless, independent journalism that holds the powerful accountable and defends democracy, now is the time to step up. The American Prospect depends on reader support to stay in the fight. Pitch in today and help us close the gap. Please consider making a donation today.
–David Dayen, Executive Editor
Copyright 2025 | The American Prospect, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
