[thebackup]

It's hard to answer your question without actually experiencing the differences first hand. It's not like we don't have visible poverty in Sweden. Almost every day I see people digging through the public trash bins for bottles and cans that pays a little for recycling and there are beggars in front of the stores and approaching you on the street asking for a money.

There is however a base pension that each senior citizen is entitled to. About 15% of the elderly only gets the minimal amount which in many cases doesn't cover basic expenses, like rent and food, so they need to be on social welfare as well.

But would I accept a 100% salary increase if it meant that social welfare had to be removed and people couldn't afford a place to live and to put food on the table? Of course not. Would I like if people that study hard and get well educated also get well paid jobs? Yes!

[throwaway2037]

Different idea: If you get the chance, take a very high paying job in the United States for a few years. You don't need to stay forever, but you will see with your own eyes... and make a bunch of money. You'll be "richer" in more than one way -- savings account and experience.