Evening star., 1939-06-25
Swedish Economist Skeptical
OfU. S. Democracy's Stability
DR.. Myrdal, Studying Racial Life, Declares
Americans Are Too Inclined to Take
Institutions for Granted
BY Marquis ". ChiIds.


Sweden forbidding employers to dis
charge women for marriage. This is Q
new basic guarantee written into Swed-
ish law.
Discussing the recent experiment
started by the Department of Agriculture
in establishing in a trial city two prices
for food-the regular price for the en-
ployed and lower price for the unem-
ployed-Dr. Myrdal said with pride that
it was his impression this grew out Of
a similar experiment in Sweden. The
Myrdals were largely responsible for put
ting through an investigation into
Swedish living standards and what these
standards have to do with the rapidly
declining birth rate. AS one result of this
study two-price system was established,
with si5able subsidy from the Labor
government.
But we have based our discrimination
on another basis entirely" DR.. Myrdal
said. Families with a certain number
OF children are entitled to the lower
price. Too often, it seems, governments
IN formulating national policy overlook
the economic significance of child-bear-
ing. A family with two consuming units
is as well of on 1000 year as a family
with five or six consuming units on $4 900
a year.
Moreover, we feel that it is more
democratic to put the discrimination on
this basis rather than on the basis of
whether or not family is on the relief
rolls. The population problem in Sweden
has given new weight to the inherent
democratic principle that whatever the
community offers its citizens schools,
sanitation medical care nutrition, hous-
ing-shall be provided for all citizens
without any income limit or any other
means test. And these services shall be
paid for by every one, not according to
the size of his family but to his capacity
to pay taxes into the public treasury. In.
solar as 1t concerns children, this guid-
ing principle is being put into practice"
Admiring much that he considers
American, Dr. Myrdal is concerned over
the persistence of graft in public life.
. SAAAe@fS' 90 AAC oCCc IL, lIllS Is related
to political system in which two rival
parties have been as alike, insofar as
intellectual differences go, as two peas
in a pod.
"Of course, am foreigner, an out
slder,' he says, land therefore I am
reluctant to speak. But must say that
it seems to me particularly unfortunate
that the possibilities for graft should
have continued down into this phase
when Government Intervention and
Government spending are necessary.
Class Distinctions.
Sometimes it has occurred to me
that perhaps your democracy began too
early. You take it for granted. With
us it began late and we are very con-
scious of the need to make it workable
way Of life"
One Of the things that has come to
interest the Myrdals is the matter Of
class distinctions in Sweden and the
United States. In Sweden there is
frankly class line, an upper class and
q lower class. 1t does not, of course,
approach the caste system that pre-
walls in Great Britain. Exceptional per-
sons may move from class to class with
out restraint
Prof. and Mrs. Myrdal recognize that
there is no such class line in the United
States. But they feel that class dis
tinctions are being set up of which
Americans themselves are only family
aware.
Il can explain what mean by citing
an example" DR.. Myrdal said. when
you travel in Pullman you are treated
with extreme courtesy, not only by the
porter, but by other train officials.
When you step into day coach the
contrast is extraordinary. Suddenly
you find yourself quite alone and help
less in the world, getting seat as best
you can. The difference between a
third-class carriage and a second-class
carriage in my country is not nearly
so great.
Then am thinking Of the attitude
Of certain public officials in the United
States. Poorly dressed and in a poor
neighborhood, policeman is likely to
give sharp reply to my question. If
am well dressed and on Park avenue, he
will be deferential and perhaps even exc
cessively polite. These obvious distinc-
tions are little startling to U.S."
Certain phenomena the Mydrals find
diflicult to understand. In country 50
prosperous, with motor cars so widely
distributed, 1t is puzzling to them to find
town after town, really sizable COM
munities, without a single bookshop.
This Is particularly hard to UNDER
stand" DR.. Mydral said. when educa-
ton is SO widespread with YOU An ever
larger proportion Of your population at
tends high school, But 80 far as we can
find out this does not seem to stir an
interest In reading. 1t has nothing to
do, apparently, with the distribution Of
books.
TN Sweden, Of course. the habit Of
reading, possibly one may call 1t intel.
lectual curiosity. Is grounded In the
great number Of study groups fostered
by trade unions, the cooperative socie-
ties and numerous other organizations."