Vista la vulgata, a molti suoneranno quantomeno inattese:
The scandinavian economies have performed strongly over the past 15 years, leading many to believe that the nordic model defies economic theory – which suggests that bigger government means lower growth and/or a lower level of income.
This report shows that one of the primary reasons for the recent strong performance of the scandinavian economies has been a retreat of government – in terms of public spending, taxation and product market regulation.
Over the 15 years prior to the 2008 great recession public spending fell by more than 20 percentage points of gDP in sweden.The smallest fall in the share of public spending in gDP was in Denmark, where it still managed to fall by 10 percentage points. These are stunning figures.
The reductions in public spending suggest the private sector was being crowded-in, thereby raising productivity and output growth. The scandinavian economies still record the highest tax burdens in the oECD, as a proportion of gDP. However, the introduction of lower actual tax rates – the marginal rate – over recent decades has surely boosted the supply-side of these economies.
Dicendo che certo “liberismo selvaggio” alla svedese spaventa persino gli inglesi ho detto tutto:
British voters have no stomach for the savage inequalities of Swedish-style laissez-faire. They won’t tolerate public money going to for-profit schools or health care. Instead, Cameron has signed on to increasing the top rate of income taxes from 40% to 50%. Eliminate inheritance taxes? I don’t think so. Follow Denmark in privatizing firefighting? Don’t make me laugh. The British public likes big government, and they are going to get it.
Ci immaginiamo gli scandinavi come iper-tassatori, ma, almeno per i carichi fiscali aziendali guardate (p.31) dove stanno in classifica Danimarca (29%), Svezia (54%). E poi guardate l’ Italia buona ultima (68%). Risultato:
Ricordiamoci sempre che la Svezia primi novanta era un paese fallito.
La lezione che traggo è questa: deregolamentare e tagliare sia tasse che spesa, ecco la via; ma occorre anche una cultura adeguata. In altri termini: occorre tagliare molto e in modo convinto dando l’ idea di inaugurare un trend. Il “trend” conta anche più del “livello”.
