Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1949-01-01
'SWeden's Economic
-Four Year Plan

WI Cal i 4Oy1
An economic long range pro-
gram, covering the period from
1947 to 1928, has been sub
mitted by the Swedish Government
to the Organization for European
Economic Cooperation in Paris. 1t
is based on the premise that SWe-
den now finds itself in a new pc
Rod of industrialization, when the
increase in exports needed to fl
nance the necessary imports can
no longer be achieved by an inten-
sified use of the country's natural
resources. However, the program
also shows t h a a considerable
growth in Sweden's industrial ca
pacity will take place during the
next four or five years.
The general goal of the plan is
to obtain visible and invisible eX-
ports of such proportions that
balance in Sweden's international
payments will be obtained by
1928, without the country hav-
ing to resort to borrowing abroad.
This will necessitate an increase
in production, especially in the ex-
port industries. If possible, i'm
ports are to be held at the same
level as in 1947, except for certain
4 10 oh ctr
made during that year. Consump-
ton per capita is expected to in
crease, although not in proportion
to the increase in output.
Private Enterprise VIII Be Aided
The report stresses the impor-
lance of preventing a further rise
in prices and living costs. Wages
and other incomes must therefore
be stabilized. Curbs on the con-
struction of housing are already
in force, and restrictive credit
policy is being followed. The con-
struction of new schools and hos
pitfalls will be postponed to a great
extent. When it comes to requests
for building factories, homes for
workers, allotment of import Ii
censes, etc, the export interests
will receive special consideration.
In this connection the report
points out that in Sweden capital
expenditures, except for public
utilities and certain publicly owned
industries, depend mainly on pri-
vate initiative in industry and
trade 1t is the task of the gov
eminent, the report adds, to see
to it that favorable conditions ex-
list for such enterprise, and to pro-
mote development of capital in
vestments and production result
ing in a general economic balance
Rise In Production
The Stockholm daily Morgon-
Tigningen, leading organ of the
| Social-DemCcratic Labor Party,
writes that 1919 undoubtedly will
be a trying year for Sweden. but
that the country's economy soon
ought to be balanced after the dis
/ locations resulting from the war.
i Sweden's industrial production, the
paper points out, is now about 43
per cent above that of the peace
time year of 1887, which was con-
sidered a very good one. The Lib
eral Dagens Nyheter emphasizes
that an increase in exports, which
is the main theme of the program.
seems imperative in view of the
balance of payments figures, but
that great efforts will have to be
made to achieve it.
Metal Working Industries Also 10
Increase Exports
The metal working industries
are expected to make a large con-
tribution to the realization of the
/ Swedish export program. Last
year their export shipments rep
resented only 20 per cent of total
Swedish exports, as compared
with 81 per cent before the war.
Attempts are now being made to
restore their prewar share in eN-
ports. and at the same time in
crease their total production.
AS examples of other Swedish