Marquis Childs (1903–1990)

A seminal book, in that it was one of the first to espouse the "Scandinavian Model" in the United States. In essence, a journalist's account of the co-operative movement in Sweden (and, to a certain extent, Denmark), and the state-owned business sector in Sweden. The book is almost completely uncritical of the movements; the connection with the long-standing Social Democratic Party is dismissed in one paragraph, even though it notes that the personnel for the co-operatives and the personnel for the SDP have a heavy degree of overlap. "Trusts" are excoriated, with the co-op's actions against them cheered, but some of the coercion used by the state to gain monopolies (especially in the liquor trade) go unremarked. Interesting in some respects, but also a relic of its Depression-era times. Marquis was also very pro-FDR, and I think this influenced the book. A curio, which should be taken with caution. Note that there are revised editions available, including a Penguin paperback that came out after the war (I read the original 1936 edition).… (mehr)