This article leaves a lot out. For instance, the loss of population to North America. In the early 1900s Sweden had a population of 4 million and it also had a

This article leaves a lot out. For instance, the loss of population to North America. In the early 1900s Sweden had a population of 4 million and it also had a diaspora of 4 million. In other words, it had lost nearly half its people overseas. The ruling class was terrified by the loss of people and so subsidizes for housing were introduced. Sweden thus became the first Western nation to introduce housing subsidies. The subsidies were for a particular kind of house, of which several survive. You can see a few in Stockholm near certain parks. But more so, the standard of living in Sweden remained well behind that of other Western nations till after World War II. The big increase in the standard of living was something that happened during the post war boom. All Western nations grew rapidly then, but Sweden was able to close the gap between itself and other Western nations. We could argue all day about whether the boom or the socialists deserve credit, but it seems clear that laissez faire had nothing to do with it.