Gwladys Fouché discovers that in Sweden high rates underpin a successful society:
"for most Swedes paying high taxes is a benefit, not a problem.Swedes' personal income tax can be as little as 29 per cent of their pay, but most people (anyone earning over £32,000) will pay between 49 and 60 per cent through a combination of local government and state income tax".
Nima Sanandaji and Robert Gidehag(2015) argue that "Sweden is a nation with extraordinary high tax rates. The average worker not only pays 30 percent of her or his income in visible taxes, but, additionally, close to 30 percent in hidden taxes. The defenders of the punishing tax burden argue that it is needed to maintain Sweden’s generous welfare system. While this claim may seem reasonable on its surface, a deeper look suggests that it is based on flawed analysis".
Reference:https:1. //www.theguardian.com/money/2008/nov/16/sweden-tax-burden-welfare
2. http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/taxes/income-taxes- abroad/sweden/index_en.htm
3.http://www.newgeography.com/content/00814-swedens-taxes-the-hidden-costs-the-welfare-state