In one of Rainer Zitelmann’s studies, people from several countries were asked, among other things, whether they agreed with the statement that the rich should pay very high taxes because that way the state can reduce the gap between rich and poor.
In Sweden, only 32 percent of those surveyed agreed with the statement, while the same figure in the United States was 36 percent. In France and Germany, a whopping 53 percent and 52 percent respectively answered that the rich should pay very high taxes.
Influenced by history
As an explanation for the Swedes’ position, Rainer Zitelmann highlights Sweden’s economic history. According to him, the tax system of the 1970s made the rich move from Sweden, and takes Ikea’s founder Ingvar Kamprad as an example.
– First he moved to Denmark and then Switzerland. The situation was better for him in Switzerland, he tells SVT’s Idébyrån.
Zitelmann believes that rich people left the country was negative for Sweden, but according to him led to a change.
– Sweden changed its policy and also the attitude towards the rich changed. Sweden now has even more billionaires than the US per capita.
Hear more about why wealth fascinates us in The idea agency on SVT Play.
