Sweden’s economic performance has remained robust despite the recent global slowdown. The macroeconomic framework put in place in the 1990s has worked well and places the country in the enviable position of being able to focus its attention primarily on addressing longer-term challenges. A large number of other OECD countries face similar challenges, often to a greater degree and from a less favourable initial position. This might tempt some in Sweden to believe that taking steps to adjust policies can be postponed to some later date, when problems have become evident and pressing...