FIRST TO THIRD:

Swedish growth hits European big league (The Local, 28 May 10)

Sweden has exceeded analysts' economic forecasts with quarterly growth up 1.4 percent and year-on-year figures placing the country at the top of the European pile. [...]

Sweden's GDP expanded three percent in the 12 months to March 2010, the statistics office said.

Swedish bank Handelsbanken said that "all-in-all, these figures show that Sweden stands out as a top performer in the EU family."

Besides being isolated and Lutheran, Sweden did not adopt the euro and the right/center government has adopted Third Way reforms. It is very nearly ludicrous to speak of it (and its northern neighbors) and countries like Italy and Greece as sharing a "European" identity.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 28, 2010 5:52 AM