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A Heckscher-Ohlin View of Sweden Competing in the Global Market

Author

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  • Edward E. Leamer
  • Per Lundborg
Abstract
In this paper we explore the hypothesis that the Swedish malaise comes from the interaction of the Swedish welfare state with changes in the global marketplace. External commerce can expose Swedish workers in exporting and import-competing industries to competition from low-wage foreign workers that is incompatible with an extensive welfare system. The Heckscher-Ohlin theory that is the foundation of this paper allows a high-wage equilibrium without government intervention even though there is increasing competition from low-wage suppliers, if capital is abundant and if production is concentrated on the most capital intensive products. Then the unskilled workers can be employed at high wages either in the tradables or nontradables sector. However, Swedish investment rates have not been high enough to maintain the position that it had two decades ago. This we express in the form of the Heckscher-Ohlin Crowding Hypothesis: Swedish difficulties in its interactions with the global marketplace come from an eroding lead in capital abundance. Though losing its distinctiveness in capital abundance, Sweden remains well supplied with soft-wood forests. Although contributing substantially to GDP forest resources can also imply lower wages for unskilled workers and greater income inequality. A country with abundant forest resources and produce capital intensive products as well as pulp and paper, but a country with more moderate supplies of capital can find much of its capital deployed in pulp and paper and end up with a mix of tradables including relatively labor-intensive products. This product mix may dictate relatively low wages for unskilled workers since the marginal unskilled worker may be employed in sectors which globally award low wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward E. Leamer & Per Lundborg, 1995. "A Heckscher-Ohlin View of Sweden Competing in the Global Market," NBER Working Papers 5114, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:5114
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    Cited by:

    1. Edward E. Leamer, 2010. "What Have Changes to the Global Markets for Goods and Services Done to the Viability of the Swedish Welfare State?," NBER Chapters, in: Reforming the Welfare State: Recovery and Beyond in Sweden, pages 285-325, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Steven J. Davis & Magnus Henrekson, 1997. "Industrial Policy, Employer Size, and Economic Performance in Sweden," NBER Chapters, in: The Welfare State in Transition: Reforming the Swedish Model, pages 353-398, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Gehrig, Thomas, 1998. "Competing markets," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 277-310, February.
    4. Edward E. Learner & Per Lundborg, 1997. "A Heckscher-Ohlin View of Sweden Competing in the Global Marketplace," NBER Chapters, in: The Welfare State in Transition: Reforming the Swedish Model, pages 399-464, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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