The 1930s characterised by repercussions from World War I and the Great Depression was an era
of populism nationalism protectionism government intervention and attempts to create planned
economies. The perceived need for economic planning emerged in Sweden in part due to the
increasing political strength of the Social Democrats and their evolution from a party hampered
by Marxist fatalism to a pragmatic mass movement. The Swedish debate continued beyond World War
II and is still relevant to today's economic crises which have resulted in a demand for action
coming from below (populism) and above (elitism).Carlson surveys the arguments for and against
economic planning as they were put forward by leading Swedish economists in the 1930s with a
focus on the thoughts of Gustav Cassel Eli Heckscher Gösta Bagge Gunnar Myrdal and Bertil
Ohlin among others. In so doing he provides a timely exploration of the debate on the
necessary and desirable extent of state intervention in market economies.
