Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode we talk about why Sweden celebrates on the eve of holidays rather than the day itself, and we look at what you need to know about Sweden’s new spring budget.For Membership+ subscribers we give you background on the proposed new leader of the Centre Party and what her nomination means for Sweden’s complicated political arithmetic.And finally we’ll examine efforts underway by a couple of Swedish municipalities to attract American academics who might be eager to leave the United States amid funding cuts and worries about academic freedom.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:EasterWitches and herring: Seven traditions that reveal it's Easter in SwedenWhy do Swedes celebrate holidays a day early?Sign up for The Local's Swedish Fika CalendarMoneyWhat do we know about Sweden's 2025 spring budget?Sweden was on the road to economic recovery – then Trump happenedPoliticsWho is Anna-Karin Hatt and why does her new role as Centre Party leader matter?Americans in Sweden'Salaries are lower': What Americans should consider before moving to Sweden

In this week's episode we talk about why Sweden celebrates on the eve of holidays rather than the day itself, and we look at what you need to know about Sweden’s new spring budget.For Membership+ subscribers we give you background on the proposed new leader of the Centre Party and what her nomination means for Sweden’s complicated political arithmetic.And finally we’ll examine efforts underway by a couple of Swedish municipalities to attract American academics who might be eager to leave the United States amid funding cuts and worries about academic freedom.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:EasterWitches and herring: Seven traditions that reveal it's Easter in SwedenWhy do Swedes celebrate holidays a day early?Sign up for The Local's Swedish Fika CalendarMoneyWhat do we know about Sweden's 2025 spring budget?Sweden was on the road to economic recovery – then Trump happenedGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

This week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with Henrik Scander, senior lecturer in Culinary Arts at Örebro University.  Our guest is also a specialist on coffee, the hot drink of choice in a country where the habit of consuming coffee and cake is so ingrained that it has sparked global interest in Swedish fika culture.But just how central is fika to social and workplace life in Sweden, what’s the quality of the coffee like in comparison to other countries, and why are Swedes so loyal to the regional coffee brands that are dotted around the country?These are just some of the things The Local's Nordic editor Richard Orange spoke about with Henrik Scander in a conversation they had earlier this April.READ ALSO:What's the history behind Sweden's regional coffee varieties? Once upon a time, when coffee was illegal in Sweden...Swedish word of the day: påtår

In this week's episode we talk about about a rush to buy coffee amid rocketing prices and we hear from an expert on Sweden's coffee culture, Henrik Scander.We also examine the political fallout after an official inquiry recommended stricter regulation of Sweden’s much-debated free schools.For Membership+ subscribers we look at efforts to stop motorists running over frogs and we discuss differences between how animal noises are described in English and Swedish.We also dig into calls by the opposition Social Democrats to extend the current three-month time limit given to work permit holders to land a new job when they find themselves out of work. And finally we have the latest on Sweden’s moves to make it impossible for asylum seekers to get permanent residency.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Podcast awards The Local's Sweden in Focus podcast shortlisted for awardCost of living Coffee prices hit record high in SwedenWhat's the history behind Sweden's regional coffee varieties?Sign up for The Local's Swedish Fika CalendarSchools How far-reaching are the government's proposals to reform free schools?Why free school profit curbs could matter for Sweden’s next electionGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

In this week's episode we talk about about a rush to buy coffee amid rocketing prices and we hear from an expert on Sweden's coffee culture, Henrik Scander.We also examine the political fallout after an official inquiry recommended stricter regulation of Sweden’s much-debated free schools.For Membership+ subscribers we look at efforts to stop motorists running over frogs and we discuss differences between how animal noises are described in English and Swedish.We also dig into calls by the opposition Social Democrats to extend the current three-month time limit given to work permit holders to land a new job when they find themselves out of work. And finally we have the latest on Sweden’s moves to make it impossible for asylum seekers to get permanent residency.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Podcast awards The Local's Sweden in Focus podcast shortlisted for awardCost of living Coffee prices hit record high in SwedenWhat's the history behind Sweden's regional coffee varieties?Sign up for The Local's Swedish Fika CalendarSchools How far-reaching are the government's proposals to reform free schools?Why free school profit curbs could matter for Sweden’s next electionLanguageGnägg! 10 animal noises that sound very different in SwedishImmigrationSocial Democrats: Double Sweden's three-month deadline for laid-off Northvolt workersSwedish inquiry calls for abolition of permanent residency for asylumIs it constitutional in Sweden to make laws apply retroactively?

With the Swedish economy still in a difficult place, The Local's Becky Waterton asks SEB economist Américo Fernández what the outlook is like for the country as a whole and for households in Sweden in the coming months and years.What do recent Swedish currency gains mean for foreigners in Sweden? What’s useful for immigrants to think about when saving for pensions? How should couples with unequal incomes think about their savings in Sweden? And is now a good time to invest in a summer house in Sweden?

In this week's episode we talk about the government’s push to eject more immigrants for bad behaviour, and we have an interview with migration minister Johan Forssell on attracting and retaining highly skilled workers.We also hear from Américo Fernández, an SEB economist and personal finance expert, on how foreigners in Sweden can navigate difficult times in the Swedish economy.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration What's in Sweden's new 'poor conduct' proposal for residence permits?Sweden set to make 'poor conduct' ground for revoking residence permitsOPINION: Swedish media must get better at covering immigrant perspectives'A trust breaker': Foreign tech workers campaign against new Swedish citizenship lawINTERVIEW: 'We are working intensively to attract more high-skilled workers to Sweden'Cost of LivingWhat's on the horizon for the Swedish economy and how will that affect internationals?Why the pay rise negotiated by Sweden's industrial unions mattersGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

In this week's episode we talk about the government’s push to eject more immigrants for bad behaviour, and we have an interview with migration minister Johan Forssell on attracting and retaining highly skilled workers.We also hear from Américo Fernández, an SEB economist and personal finance expert, on how foreigners in Sweden can navigate difficult times in the Swedish economy.For Membership+ subscribers we examine what’s happening with the governing Liberals after a string of high-profile resignations this week. And finally we look at why so few babies are being born in Sweden and the impact that’s having on society.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration What's in Sweden's new 'poor conduct' proposal for residence permits?Sweden set to make 'poor conduct' ground for revoking residence permitsOPINION: Swedish media must get better at covering immigrant perspectives'A trust breaker': Foreign tech workers campaign against new Swedish citizenship lawINTERVIEW: 'We are working intensively to attract more high-skilled workers to Sweden'Cost of LivingWhat's on the horizon for the Swedish economy and how will that affect internationals?Why the pay rise negotiated by Sweden's industrial unions mattersPolitics Liberal carnage; Sweden's government shrugs off criticism of nuclear funding planFamilyThis article is from last year but the trend has continued. Sweden's population growth slowest in 22 years as fertility rate drops to record low 

It’s time again to learn some Swedish as our panelists try their hand at the tricky vocabulary section of högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week by The Local's James Savage and Emma Löfgren.READ ALSO:SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through