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Sweden boasts hefty budget surplus for 2011

Published: 10 Jan 12 13:35 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/38424/20120110/

Sweden’s national debt office (Riksgälden) stated on Tuesday that the country’s budget surplus from 2011 stood at 68 billion kronor ($9.85 billion).

"Despite increased concerns about the debt situation in the world and an expected slowdown in the economy during the second half, Swedish government finances developed strongly in 2011," the debt office said in a statement.

While Sweden, with its heavily export reliant economy was hard-hit during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, its recovery "continued to be strong in 2011, which generated higher tax income," the office said.

The debt office pointed out that the government during the year had also sold off shares worth 23 billion kronor in the Nordic region's biggest bank, Nordea, and in Swedish-Finnish telecom giant Telia Sonera.

Sweden's central government debt meanwhile stood at 1,108 billion kronor at the end of 2011, which corresponds to 32 percent of the non-euro-member's gross domestic product (GDP), far below the 60-percent level allowed within the eurozone.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

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15:31 January 10, 2012 by Migga
Sweden continues to be strong when the rest of the world is burning.
16:30 January 10, 2012 by Svensksmith
Taxes will now be reduced!!! *dream*
17:59 January 10, 2012 by Just_Kidding
68 buckets of money to fill the 1108 bucket hole dug by SocDems.
20:24 January 10, 2012 by swedejane
Sweden has the budget surplus of a middling Fortune 500 company. Congrats!
21:34 January 10, 2012 by kenny8076
@Migga....LOL..... ya thats true....facepalm...... yet its one of the hardest places i have ever been to to get a job unless you know someone that knows someone that is related to someone awesome...... dont even get me started on 2 year waiting lists to get housing so you ether have to live with mommy or daddy or live with 4 friends...... anyone can have a surplus when you tax people 60% and tax every street in stockholm via car. the problem is they arent spending it where it needs..... too busy giving intitlements out to this need y society instead of paying for on the job training.... i dont know, maybe a huge infrastructure start on housing?
10:10 January 13, 2012 by Grindsprint
What fortune 500 company has a budget surplus of $10 billion?
03:34 March 10, 2013 by prieten
As an American, I must praise the Swedes to high heaven for their fiscal responsibility. Your government debt as a percent of GNP is falling while everyone else's is growing by leaps and bounds. Sweden may have high taxes, but its citizens are getting very good services. All countries should learn from Sweden!
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