THE STOCKHOLM CURVE

Recently, the Swedish government announced business tax cuts, income tax cuts and payroll tax cuts to boost jobs. And to market their country to outside businesses, cutting the corporate tax rate is a great move, since the corporate tax is one of the taxes which large companies study when they plan to set up business somewhere:

• The corporate tax reduction will bring the Swedish rate down to 26.3 percent from 28 percent, continuing its fall from a high of 57 percent in 1987.
• This means that Swedes will soon have a corporate tax rate one-third lower than the U.S. average of 39.5 percent (the 35 percent federal rate plus the state average).
• Sweden remains a high-tax country overall, with individual rates well above 50 percent plus pension and payroll obligations; however, Sweden is discovering that it must cut taxes to compete with Ireland, Eastern Europe and fast-growing Asia.
• Nearly three years ago, Sweden eliminated its inheritance tax. The U.S. death tax rate is still 45 percent.

The United States is taking notice. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) cited Ireland's low rate in his September debate with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). But Obama continues to insist that U.S. business is undertaxed...

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