Another setback for the Socialist poster-girl of Sweden. Not only would Sweden be the poorest area in North America, it would generate a higher proportion of psychological problems including behavioral issues with children than North America's 'unequal' jurisdictions. But by all means copy Sweden. Make North America one large Swedish Nanny-Ninny state. We can then blame equal-poverty-for-all; massive taxation; psychological issues; and child mental-health problems on markets, Jews and Anglo-Saxon capitalism. Just let the state do everything, let the state provide 'free' $20.000 subsidized day-care and let the nanny-state control your offspring including raising your children, wiping their arses, changing their diapers, putting them to bed, blowing their noses, and combing their hair. All in homage to the all-powerful, always moral, 'state'. Who needs the bother of raising the little ones? Shouldn't all children be given the 'same start' in life and shouldn't they all be managed 'equally' ? Jubilee.

“[National Post] True, parental leave in Sweden is a generous 16 months. There are no babies in daycare. But when parental leave ends, practically the reverse is true: A full 92% of all children aged 18 months to five years are in daycare. Parents pay only a symbolic amount for this; tax subsidies for daycare are $20,000 per child, annually. Swedish taxes are among the highest in the world, and the tax system was designed to make both parents seek employment in the work force.

Studies show that most Swedes also want the option of a home-care allowance for the first three to four years of their child’s life. The winning centre-right coalition in the 2006 Swedish national election made this promise. After the election, however, political compromises resulted in an allowance which was small, difficult to use and was not mandatory — local governments could decide whether or not to offer it. Only a third of Swedish municipalities chose to do so.

Then there are the questions about the social toll Sweden’s childcare system is taking. Sweden has offered a comprehensive daycare system since 1975; since the early ‘90s, negative outcomes for children and adolescents are on the rise in areas of health and behaviour. While direct causation has been difficult to prove, many Swedish health-care professionals point to the lack of parent involvement beyond the first 16 months as a primary contributing factor. Psychosomatic disorders and mild psychological problems are escalating among Swedish youth at a faster rate than in any of 11 comparable European countries. Such disorders have tripled among girls over the last 25 years. Education outcomes in Swedish schools have fallen from the top position 30 years ago, to merely average amongst OECD nations today. Behaviour problems in Swedish classrooms are among the worst in Europe.”