Swedes Admittedly are Cheaters

[conlor]

Nearly all Swedes have abused the nation's public services and benefits systems, with one in six admitting they are serious cheaters, a study indicates.

According to the study conducted by two senior economists, 95 percent of the 1,257 Swedes polled admitted stretching the rules to maximize their take of government programs, The Local reported Wednesday. About 16 percent said they had seriously cheated, including claiming unemployment or sick benefits to which they were not entitled, the Swedish newspaper said.

Economists Stefan Folster and Fredrik Bergstrom also contend over-exploitation of the system is regularly hushed up by authorities.

"The Social Insurance Administration, ([employment office) AMS and the unemployment insurance funds have for decades presented serious underestimates of the extent of cheating and over-exploitation," they write.

"Government agencies and departments often hold back from highlighting the hidden reality, as it also reflects their failures."

TDS Internet Services: News: Swedes admittedly are cheaters