Happy March! Today, a guest post …

Seeking to learn more about Sweden, where my sister is laid up with a concussion, I found some aspects of life there that America should emulate – and some pitfalls that America should avoid.

Swedish culture places high value on “lagom,” which can be defined as just enough, or what is reasonable, appropriate and moderate. The Swedes try to balance the collective good and individual freedom, and believe that social trust, a belief that people are not taking advantage of the system.

These descriptions come from an article in the Christian Science Monitor by Erika Page. You can access it here.

Sweden has managed to combine a vibrant economy, labor productivity and a healthy respect for the welfare of citizens. Although taxes are high, there’s universal health care, generous pensions, housing allowances and other social measures.

Labor productivity is 28 percent higher in Sweden than in other wealthy countries, Page writes. Workers and bosses both thrive in a system of limited hours, five weeks of vacation, 480 days of paid leave for new parents, and a child supplement the equivalent of $120 a month.  

Sweden has also developed ambitious targets for reducing the nation’s contribution to climate change, and has relatively low carbon emissions compared to other rich countries.

But Page reports that “the threads of lagom seem to be fraying, as social services come under increasing stress and politics reach unprecedented levels of polarization.” Sweden has always been welcoming to migrants and refugees, but now a fifth of its population of 10.4 million was born elsewhere. Anti-immigrant feeling has intensified, and there’s been a surge in crime that’s linked to gang and drug networks, Page writes.

America could benefit from a greater feeling of lagom. And I’d like to see universal health care, more generous social programs, along with greater labor productivity and climate action. But I fear that uncontrolled immigration, combined with right-wing disinformation networks and the decline of traditional media, is making possible the catastrophic return of Donald Trump.

Sweden is doing a lot of things right, and it should take renewed account of the value of lagom, so it doesn’t lose what makes it such a special place.

1 thought on “What is Lagom?

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      This is a fascinating post. The idea of “lagom” is definitely not American. Finding a balance between your own needs and the needs of others seems especially topical in view of climate change and mass immigration. I understand why having 20% of the Swedish population born abroad seems like too much. In France (where I live) and in the US, the figure is more like 15% and yet it’s still a major source of political debate…and right-wing scare tactics, as you point out. I’m going to share this…thank you!

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