Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Post asked Marina Trattner, a journalist from Ukraine who moved to Sweden in 2005 and got her master’s degree in European business law, to name 10 aspects of Swedish life that she particularly admires. She is one of an estimated 8,000 Ukrainians living in Sweden, while just 100 Swedes live in Ukraine.
1. Independent justice
The cornestone of a democratic state is respect for fundamental values, human rights and the rule of law. These values are effectively protected in Sweden and any justice seeker can receive judgments of high quality in a short period of time and at a low cost. It’s unthinkable that a friend of the prime minister or a member of the government could make a call to a judge and influence the ruling.
2. Little corruption
Sweden is in the top 5 of 176 countries in Corruption Perception Index.
3. ‘Invisible’ tax system
Despite the fact that Swedes pay one of the highest taxes in the world, their tax system is transparent and consumer friendly. It can take me a few minutes to fill in my tax declaration and send it via sms to the tax office. No more contacts with them. I can visit their home page and see exactly where every krona goes: on education, medical system, roads, etc.
4. Free quality education
All the graduates have their marks in different subjects saved on their personal page here www.studera. nu. They can choose a course or a program at any university in Sweden and apply for it online. The system will choose the students with the highest marks and enroll them on the courses. If there will be two persons with the same marks, the one who applied first will be accepted. If they applied at the same time, the system will choose the one by chance, like in a lottery. If they do not have the sufficient amount of points they will have a chance to study some extra courses and get them.
5. Inclusive society
All this is available for children and people with disabilities. Every building and transport are adjusted for them to move freely as they wish during their whole life: from kindergarten to the last days. If you have no ability to talk, no ability to walk – just to sit in a wheelchair and click on the screen to choose the words for your communication with the world, you will still have a chance to graduate from a school, get a law degree at the university and work as a judge in Sweden.
6. Personal growth
Sweden has studievägledare – specialists who can meet with you, conduct several tests and figure out which profession could suit your talents and experiences best. It’s important for Sweden to unleash your full potential. The support is provided to those who want to invent something or start a business in Sweden. You may start a business in Sweden at the age of 15. You will get free consultants at the local tax office who will support you and guide you on the way. If you have an idea and want to invent something, specialists at different innovation clusters will meet with you to evaluate your idea. If it will be worth the investment, they will help you to create a business plan, make a prototype, apply for a patent, finance your costs and help you to reach markets in different countries. More information about it is available here: www.ideoninnovation.se
7. Innovation leader
It is No. 1 within the European Union and No. 2 in the world after South Korea in Bloomberg Innovation Index: https://www.bloomberg. com/news/articles/2017-01-17/ sweden-gains-south-korea-reigns-asworld- s-most-innovative-economies. It’s crucial for a successful economy to make sure that every citizen can focus on personal development. Women and men have the same rights and possibilities to become successful. If society supports just men, then it’s economy unleashes just 50 percent of its innovative potential. Sweden supports all on an equal basis. They have created an infrastructure which is ideal for a researcher and his family in Sweden: from cheap research centers and possibilities to protect your inventions and receive the revenues to kindergartens and schools where your children get one of the best educations in the world. Children’s rights will be strongly protected at school and at home at any stage. Corporal punishment has been prohibited in Sweden since 1979. They will be able to speak three-four languages and plan their education as it suits their needs best. They will grow up with respect for equal rights and will take care of the nature. They will make sure that it will be clean around them wherever they go. Sweden has a shortage of garbage and buys it from neighboring countries.
8. Privacy, integrity
Here you have a right to love the one you want and live with him or her in the way that suits you both. Society will respect that and support you all the way through your life. You will never ever have to explain your form of relationship to anyone. You can just describe your partner as “maka” – husband or wife, ”sambo” – we live together or ”särbo” – we have a relationship, but do not live together. That’s it. It does not matter whom you live with as long as you both are happy and can unleash your potential to make Sweden even more successful. I love it.
9. Church-state separate
Religion is modest in financing. It’s kind and helpful. It’s there for me if I need it, but it will never aggressively interfere in my life at any stage and tell me how to behave. There are female priests there. Yes, it has been possible for couples of the same gender to get married in church in Sweden since 2009.
10. Animal rights
Animal rights are protected and insured on a daily basis. Animals should not suffer in any way. Dogs have a right to go out for a walk every sixth hour. Puppies and old dogs should go out more often. They must have a clean space around them, food and water at any time. Their claws should be cut regularly and you have to play with your dog, cat, other animal or bird often to make sure that it develops properly.
