Sweden during the Pandemic – Pariah or Paragon?
An assessment of Swedish COVID policy
by Johan Norberg,* Sweden
(10 October 2023) During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden stood out from other countries, stubbornly refusing lockdowns, school closures, and mask mandates. This was highly controversial and many outsiders saw it as a dangerous gamble with human lives. From a Swedish perspective, however, it looked like it was other countries that were engaging in a dangerous experiment.