Fighting inflation is the government’s highest priority in the work on this year’s autumn budget. The budget must not drive inflation, said Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) when she presented the government’s assessment of the economic situation.
Money for new reforms
Both LO and Svenskt Näringsliv believe that the government has the wrong focus and are instead calling for more money for new reforms.
– It is a far too restrained budget in a situation where households are having a very, very tough time and entrepreneurs around the country are fighting for their survival. We needed a growth budget, this seems to be a crisis budget, says Svenskt Näringsliv’s chief economist Sven-Olov Daunfeldt.
At the top of LO’s wish list before the autumn budget is presented in September is more money for municipalities and regions. According to LO, 30 billion is needed just to cope with welfare in the coming years.
– Municipalities and regions warn of having to lay off teachers, nannies and staff in elderly care, says Laura Hartmann.
Want to see tax cuts and job tax credits
Swedish Business and Industry instead wants to see tax cuts for people with low incomes, something they believe should increase the drive to work. They also want to see a new employment tax deduction.
– In every budget, municipalities and regions scream for more money. We have to start getting more value for every tax kroner, says Sven-Olov Daunfeldt.
– The most important thing is that we get a policy focused on more jobs and growth. It is only by achieving growth in the economy that municipalities and regions can bring in more tax revenue, he says.