The minister of finance: Sweden is strong – Göteborgs-Posten

Economy the Unemployment rate is declining – but the gaps are increasing, according to finance minister Magdalena Andersson. – We have had me as minister of finance in two years and we have had a surplus in the public finances in two years, ” she says at a press conference.

Magdalena Andersson unveiled on Tuesday the government’s new economic forecast. According to the minister of finance himself grow the Swedish economy quickly, while the unemployment rate will decline and the surplus in central government finances increases.

Increased margin

Overall, it is about an upward revision of 40 billion in the coming years, partly as a result of lower estimated costs for sickness benefits and migration, compared with the past.

- Thus, there is margin if we see increased needs in welfare, ” says Andersson.

That the public finances were better this year, than previously estimated, due mainly to a bokföringsteknisk adjustment of the EU contribution and increased vat receipts, according to Andersson.

the Government’s assessment of the unemployment rate in 2020 remains at the same level as the previous forecast.

But the road there is something slower, ” she says.

Greater income inequality

Andersson will talk about income inequality at the press conference. In the united states, gaps have increased substantially, which can explain the political developments.

- The Swedish model has delivered a completely different development, ” she says.

But, even in Sweden has widened the gap, especially during the years of the Alliance, argues Andersson. But according to her now shows the forecasts of the government’s policy that the equality will increase over the next few years.

adjustments

According to the government’s new forecast grows Sweden’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 3.4 per cent this year and 2.4 per cent next year. 2018 expected GDP to grow by 1.8 per cent.

In september counted the government, with a growth of 3.5 per cent this year, 2.3 per cent in 2017 and 1.9% in 2018.

When it comes to the public sector financial savings, we expect the government now with a surplus of 0,2 (-0,2) per cent of GDP in 2016, a deficit of 0.4 percent (- 0.3) in 2017 and a surplus of 0.2 percent (0.0) 2018.

the Unemployment rate is expected to fall from 6.9 (6.8 in) per cent in the year to 6.5 (6.3) for the percent in 2017 and 6.4 (6.3) for the per cent in 2018.

the Numbers in brackets refer to the government’s septemberprognos.

Risks: the Trump of the Swedish and liabilities

Magdalena Andersson is pointing to more risks in the Swedish economy – what kind of trade policy Donald Trump choose as president, Brexit, the high sovereign debt in the Euro area and not least the high level of indebtedness among Swedish households.

- Household indebtedness is a risk in the Swedish economy. The development of housing prices in Sweden also. We must be prepared for measures to mitigate the indebtedness and mitigate the trend in the housing market, ” says Magdalena Andersson.