If somebody is interested in a more data driven view, I would recommend this paper (1) by Ha-Joon Chang: "This free trade phase, however, was short-lived. Swed

If somebody is interested in a more data driven view, I would recommend this paper (1) by Ha-Joon Chang: "This free trade phase, however, was short-lived. Sweden started using tariffs as a means to protect the agricultural sector from American competition since around 1880. After 1892, it also provided tariff protection and subsidies to the industrial sector, especially the newly-emerging engineering sectors [..]. Because of this switch to protectionism, the Swedish economy performed extremely well in the following decades" "The Swedish state made great efforts in facilitating the acquisition of advanced foreign technology, including state-sponsored industrial espionage. However, more notable was its emphasis on the accumulation of “technological capabilities” [..]. It provided stipends and travel grants for studies and research, invested in education, helped the establishment of technological research institutes, and provided direct research funding to industry" (1) - http://www.personal.ceu.hu/corliss/CDST_Course_Site/Readings_old_2012_files/Ha-Joon%20Chang%20-%20Kicking%20Away%20the%20Ladder-The%20%E2%80%9CReal%E2%80%9D%20History%20of%20Free%20Trade.pdf http://www.personal.ceu.hu/corliss/CDST_Course_Site/Readings...