Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Sweden's Unique Approach to COVID-19 Is Preserving Economic Freedom

In stark contrast to most other developed countries dealing with the coronavirus, Sweden has adopted what are perhaps the least restrictive "Social distancing" rules in the world, permitting most economic activity to continue in the face of the pandemic.

Ers Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist and architect of the policy, explained that his country's approach to COVID-19 is "To let the virus spread as slow as possible, while sheltering the elderly and the vulnerable until much of the population becomes naturally immune or a vaccine becomes available."

Sweden's unique approach has not emerged from a vacuum.

The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom has documented significant advances in economic freedom in Sweden over the years.

The country's strong public finances, with a public debt level below 40% of gross domestic product and room for its central bank to exercise independent monetary policy as a non-euro nation, give Sweden a good chance to limit the economic fallout.

The country has taken a stand for economic freedom, and its economic recovery at the very least should be swift and durable.

As The Heritage Foundation's National Coronavirus Recovery Commission recommends, "Empowering economic freedom and partnerships in free markets" along with key partners, such as Sweden, should be an integral part of combating the current pandemic and revitalizing our economic livelihoods.


https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/21/swedens-unique-approach-to-battling-covid-19-is-preserving-economic-freedom/

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