Economy & taxes

Topic overview

Where do the parties stand on the economy and taxes?

The overall tax level is the clearest dividing line in economic policy: Moderaterna, Kristdemokraterna, Liberalerna, Centerpartiet and Sverigedemokraterna want lower taxes on work and business, while Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna and Miljöpartiet oppose the cuts — Vänsterpartiet also wants higher taxes on top incomes. The same two camps face off over reinstating a wealth tax. On state ownership of electricity production the pattern breaks: Sverigedemokraterna side with Vänsterpartiet and Socialdemokraterna, while Centerpartiet, Liberalerna, Kristdemokraterna and Moderaterna are opposed.

Where all 14 parties stand across 7 questions on Economy — from the parties’ programmes, with source quotes where available and an in-depth page for each.

Where the parties stand

Riksdag parties

Vänsterpartiet

Across 7 questions on Economy, Vänsterpartiet backs 4 and pushes back on 2.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Strongly disagree

De med högst inkomst och stora förmögenheter behöver bidra med mer skatt till välfärden.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: V on Economy

Socialdemokraterna

Across 7 questions on Economy, Socialdemokraterna backs 3 and pushes back on 4.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Strongly disagree

Skatterna ska vara progressiva och tas ut efter bärkraft och välfärdstjänsterna fördelas efter behov.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: S on Economy

Miljöpartiet

Across 7 questions on Economy, Miljöpartiet backs 4 and pushes back on 2.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Strongly disagree

Regeringen har prioriterat skattesänkningar för höginkomsttagare istället för att förbättra situationen för de som har det tuffast. Det har ökat ojämlikheten och orättvisorna i samhället.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: MP on Economy

Centerpartiet

Across 7 questions on Economy, Centerpartiet backs 2 and pushes back on 3.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Neutral

Därför är det prioriterat att sänka skatten underifrån.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: C on Economy

Liberalerna

Across 7 questions on Economy, Liberalerna backs 2 and pushes back on 2.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Strongly agree

Därför vill vi kraftigt sänka den statliga inkomstskatten på högre inkomster, med målet att halvera den.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: L on Economy

Kristdemokraterna

Across 7 questions on Economy, Kristdemokraterna backs 2 and pushes back on 2.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Agree

Kristdemokraterna har drivit på för att höja brytpunkten för statlig inkomstskatt vilket inneburit att färre löntagare tvingas betala den.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: KD on Economy

Moderaterna

Across 7 questions on Economy, Moderaterna backs 2 and pushes back on 4.

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Strongly agree

Den statliga inkomstskatten behöver fortsatt sänkas för att stärka drivkrafterna att utbilda sig och ta svårare och mer betungande arbetsuppgifter.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: M on Economy

Sverigedemokraterna

Across 7 questions on Economy, Sverigedemokraterna backs 4 and pushes back on 3.

The state should own the dominant electricity producers and grid operators.

Agree

Vi vill behålla statligt ägande i viktiga bolag för att säkra nationens kontroll över centrala funktioner och naturresurser.

Quote in Swedish, from the party’s programme

In depth: SD on Economy

Biggest disagreements

The questions on Economy where the Riksdag parties’ coded positions are furthest apart.

Working hours should be reduced by law towards a 35-hour week, at unchanged pay.

Agree: V · MP
Disagree: S · C · M · SD

Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.

Agree: L · KD · M · SD
Disagree: V · S · MP
Middle: C

Sweden should reintroduce a wealth tax on individuals with assets above 50 million SEK.

Agree: V · S · MP
Disagree: C · L · KD · M · SD

Corporate tax should be cut to attract international investment to Sweden.

Agree: C · L · KD · M · SD
Disagree: V · S · MP

Broadest agreement

The smallest spread in the area: of the 8 Riksdag parties, 2 broadly agree and 1 broadly disagree.

The temporarily lowered food VAT should be made permanent.

Agree: C · SD
Disagree: S
Middle: V

Common questions

Short answers from the Riksdag parties’ programmes. Open each compass question to see all 14 parties.

Which parties want to cut taxes on work?

Compass question: “Income taxes for high earners should be lowered to encourage growth.”

Agree in full or in part: Liberalerna, Kristdemokraterna, Moderaterna, and Sverigedemokraterna.

Disagree in full or in part: Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna, and Miljöpartiet.

In the middle or without a clear line: Centerpartiet.

See all 14 parties on this question

Which parties want to bring back the wealth tax?

Compass question: “Sweden should reintroduce a wealth tax on individuals with assets above 50 million SEK.”

Agree in full or in part: Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna, and Miljöpartiet.

Disagree in full or in part: Centerpartiet, Liberalerna, Kristdemokraterna, Moderaterna, and Sverigedemokraterna.

See all 14 parties on this question

Which parties want to cut corporate tax?

Compass question: “Corporate tax should be cut to attract international investment to Sweden.”

Agree in full or in part: Centerpartiet, Liberalerna, Kristdemokraterna, Moderaterna, and Sverigedemokraterna.

Disagree in full or in part: Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna, and Miljöpartiet.

See all 14 parties on this question

All 7 questions on Economy