20/09/2006 12:21:20 am
Reforms, Effects and Inspiration. I believe that the new Swedish Government will be one of the most reform-minded in Western Europe. Stepwise free-market reforms will improve the Swedish society, particularly the labour market, and that will inspire other countries. In fact, both these processes have already started.

Despite the fact that the new Government has not yet entered the offices, the mere promise that they will not introduce the proposed air plane tax has lead to Ryain Air changing their previous decision. Now, they will not make drastic cuts in flights to and from Sweden; instead they will increase.

Second, there has been a substantial international media coverage of the election. It has shown Europe that reformers can win - even if there is not a huge crisis. And today, Andrew Adonis, minister for Schools in England, writes in the FT that this implies that New Labour must push on for reform. International reform inspiration - two days after the elections!