Overall, the book is a great and informative read, and it provides a fact-based and balanced view of the world-renowned Swedish welfare state, its development and evolution. Yet while the vast amount of supportive data, presented throughout the book’s chapters as well as in five appendices, is a major strength, it is also the book’s main shortcoming: Bergh follows the data, but refrains from attempting explanations that do not follow directly from them. As a consequence, many a stone is left unturned.

Bergh truly does a great job at dispelling myths about the Swedish welfare state, its rise and presumed effects and achievements. He is perhaps too dedicated to the institutional explanation and a little too reluctant to speculate on possible explanations, but there should be no doubt that this book is a very nice contribution to our understanding of the reality of the welfare state in contrast to progressive mythology. The book is money well spent for anyone interested in contemporary politics and political economy.