The political economy of wage-earner funds: policy debate and Swedish experience |
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| Authors: | Donald A.R. George |
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| Affiliation: | Queen's University, University of Edinburgh , CanadaI am grateful to the Nuffield Foundation for a research grant, which financed the research upon which this paper is based, and to Uppsala University for their generous hospitality. I am also indebted to numerous individuals in Sweden for information and advice. In particular I would mention Rudolf Meidner (Arbetslivscentrum), Stig Carlsson (LO), Lennart Laftman (Mellansvenska l?ntagarfonden), Carl-Axel Zachrisson (Sydfonden), Clas Nykvist (Fond V?st), Sune Davidsson (Ekonomifakta) and Leif Widen (Ekonomifakta) and an anonymous referee. Any remaining errors or omissions are entirely my own. |
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| Abstract: | Various European proposals for wage-earner funds are briefly surveyed. The central issues of the policy debate surrounding these funds are then discussed. It is argued that the outcome of this debate was not determined solely by a rational appraisal of the economic costs and benefits of the various policy options. Wage-earner funds raise questions concerning the ownership and control of capital and have therefore been the focus of political conflict between powerful interest groups. The paper then analyses the experience of wage-earner funds in Sweden, dealing with their objectives, behaviour and economic performance. |
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