Sweden’s economy is described by The Economist as: ‘well-managed, export-driven…high-tech companies…well educated workforce. Female participation in the workforce is higher than in most other countries; English is widely spoken; and Swedes are thoroughly computer-literate. Sweden is one of the few rich European countries for which globalisation has been a benefit, not a threat,’ (‘The Swedish model: Admire the best, forget the rest’, The Economist Sept 9th 2006, p.26). The negatives are that Sweden has a very low rate of self-employment among OECD countries.

Sweden’s biggest companies: Ericsson, SKF, Telia and Volvo.