[Goose]

To me, the best comparator would seem to be geographically and demographically similar countries: Denmark, Norway, and Finland (ergo my statement comparing Sweden to its "neighbors").  All three of those countries were facing a similar choice in March as Sweden: deciding between locking down even though the number of cases and deaths were low or continuing business as usual as Sweden did.  And compared to each of those countries, Sweden suffered a bigger economic decline, and more deaths.


BC

I understand your basis for selecting "similar" countries, but I believe that economically Sweden, Norway, and for certainly Denmark are very different beasts. I think Sweden is much more sensitive to downturns in the other EU economies.

[Goose]

To me, the best comparator would seem to be geographically and demographically similar countries: Denmark, Norway, and Finland (ergo my statement comparing Sweden to its "neighbors").  All three of those countries were facing a similar choice in March as Sweden: deciding between locking down even though the number of cases and deaths were low or continuing business as usual as Sweden did.  And compared to each of those countries, Sweden suffered a bigger economic decline, and more deaths.


BC

I understand your basis for selecting "similar" countries, but I believe that economically Sweden, Norway, and for certainly Denmark are very different beasts. I think Sweden is much more sensitive to downturns in the other EU economies.