The Economist skriver om svensk integrationspolitik

The Economist reportage om svenskt integrationspolitik utgår från den starka betoningen på jämställdhet här och i Danmark. Reportern besöker ett dagis i Tensta och noterar häpet att nästan alla tvååringar är inskrivna på dagis. Därefter uppmärksammas regeringens nya lag om nyanlända invandrares arbetsmarknadsetablering som ytterligare stärker incitamenten för kvinnor att delta i samhällslivet.

A new integration policy, to take effect at the end of 2010, will pay immigrants to attend full-time language classes, “civic orientation” courses or job training for two years after they obtain residence permits. The benefits will be payable to individuals, not households. The stated aim is to push immigrant women into the labour market (duly propelling their children into day care).

Behind such policies lie a set of ideological beliefs, concedes a senior government official. Swedes are fiercely attached to gender equality. Economically, they think it good for women to work and pay taxes. They also believe “it is good for young children to be in preschool”, so they can be educated by trained professionals. In a nice piece of circular reasoning, officials argue that children need to go to preschool to make friends, because that is where all the other children are.

Reportagen noterar också att vårdnadsbidraget utmanar idén om att staten via skattesedeln ska styra familjers liv för att skapa jämställdhet.