Social Welfare system Sweden

Welfare theories There are two welfare theories in the Swedish society. The most common one that we can see most examples of is The socialistic welfare theory. For example, we pay high taxes to get free education for all, and that also give us a low cost for health care. Without the taxes, it would cost every swede about three times the cost than what we pay for health care today. The municipal tax of 32% (depending on which municipality you live in), if you earn more of than 35 850 per month (3585 €) you have to pay the state income tax + 20% and if you earn more than 51 345 per month (5134 €) they have 5% more in taxes. It would be 57% tax if you earn 51 345 per month. If you earn, for example 60 000 SEK you will have to pay 57 % tax for the last 9 000 SEK in your pay packet. We are using this theory because it gives all inhabitants in Sweden a social safety so that all people have the chance to attend school, and get the care that one need plus many other social benefits. It gives everyone an equal chance, without the socialistic welfare it would only be the rich people who could afford an education and the care that one need when one is ill. To some extent are we also using The liberalistic welfare theory, mostly through the private insurances, which people can buy to get more social safety that what the Swedish welfare can give. There are also private care centers, which people pay extra for, but people often get an appointment faster there compared to the state-owned care centers.

The negative part is that we pay high taxes, then the inhabitants don’t get as high income compared to what the inhabitants would get if the taxes where lower which in turn affect, the individual freedom, when a person might want to add more money on school and less on medical care and another person who might want to spend money on something else. But thru high taxes, the people does not get the same freedom of what their money should go to, you can’t choose what the taxes should or should not go to. Some mean also that it would be better if the taxes were reduced because then the persons with low income would have enough money. Many poor people have to search for donation, because of the fact that much of their money disappears in taxing. But the high taxes have made that all people in Sweden has got the same chances and possibilities in the society, which is a positive consequences of the system we have built up.

That’s why we have the high taxes, so now we can have a safety, both for the people with high income such as low. All children gets the same chances to study further on in the university. Since you also get support as an unemployed, less people get left out in the society. Short and good, our welfare system makes everyone in the society included, everyone gets the same possibilities. Our society is very different compared to other countries for example the US, which has not the same welfare as we have in Sweden. The US has a more conservative and liberal welfare theory. Since they do not have much taxes and the main thought that the individual should manage to live by it self, without support from the government. This welfare theory does that the unemployed in the society get a harder time, without donations or support from the government, and your own responsibility to find yourself a new job. Otherwise you might get "excluded" from the society. This welfare program do not either give the same possibilities to all people, it is directed more towards the rich people. Everyone can't go to the university, since it is to expensive. That’s why our welfare program is good, for making the class differences descend while eg the US increase true that they don't have as good welfare.

Welfare system in practice Education In Sweden, we have something called child benefit and student grants. Child benefit is that each family for each child under 16 years gets a sum of money. When they turn 16 and becomes a student at high school the parents gets student grants and when the student turns 18 years old they can keep the sum of money to themselves. The education is free, from kindergarten to university (some exceptions University books costs and boarding schools).

Health care One example of the welfare system in health care is that all people in Sweden have right to free dental service up to the year one turn 20, which is thanks to our welfare. Without it, it would only be the rich ones who would be able to fix their teeth. Adults and kids from poorer would have to go around with teeth that hurt, because many would not be able to pay the high costs for dental care when they have problem to put food on the table. So The Doctor for children/young people under 18 are free and dentist until they become 20 years. We also have a range called the Youth Clinic and helps young people between 12-25 years to get Health care information and free medicine.

Unemployment Would you, for example, become unemployed, you can get grants and assistance. Arbetsförmedlingen, which is an authority that helps unemployed people, young and adults in many ways. In February 2015, unemployment was at 8.4% and youth unemployment (15- 24 years) at 24.7%. This is a problem that gives the politicians headache. It is difficult to solve. Employment Service helps young people to get jobs in many ways, an example of it, is an introduction to the profession of employment. it's for the young unemployed under 24 years to get an opportunity to learn a profession and get help from a tutor while you get paid. It will then help the unemployed to work again or work for the first time, then you have also received a competent training for a profession.

Sources http://www.so-rummet.se/content/vad-ar-grejen-med-valfardsteorier http://www.ur.se/Produkter/174921-UR-Samtiden-100-ars-valfard-och-sen-da-Valfardsmodeller- Sverige-och-Europa http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Välfärd http://www.socialdemokraterna.se/Var-politik/Var-politik-A-till-O/Valfarden/ http://nyistockholm.se/svenska/menyval-1/menyval-1-1/valfardssamhallet/ Author: Johanna Palmgren, Lina Kerrouchi, Pernilla Norrman