It's apparently been a much longer journey, starting in the 1800's as detailed by http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/how-laissez-faire-made-swede

It's apparently been a much longer journey, starting in the 1800's as detailed by http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/how-laissez-faire-made-sweden-rich http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/how-laisse... The part about John Hierta is especially interesting; he's the obvious entrepreneur who managed to change politics.