STOCKHOLM, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The gap between rich and poor in Sweden is widening, according to statistics reported on Monday by Swedish news SVT.
In 275 of Sweden's 290 municipalities, income disparity has increased since 2011. Overall, Sweden has been prospering, with the average income rising steadily, but this trend has not been evenly distributed.
SVT measured income disparity by comparing the one percent with the highest disposable income (income minus tax) in each municipality to that of "the average Svensson" (the "average Joe") in each municipality, using statistics compiled by Statistics Sweden (SCB).
"The reduction of equality is a problem. This is mainly due to the fact that the capital income has increased significantly for the richest percentage," Anders Teljeback, chairman of Vasteras Municipal Council, told SVT.
Although income disparity is still low in Sweden compared to international levels, Sweden is one of the EU countries where income inequality has increased most in recent years, reported SVT.
Vasteras, a municipality 100km west of Stockholm, is exemplary of this trend. In 2011, the highest-earning percentage of residents had an income 5.6 times greater than the average westerner, according to SVT. Just six years later in 2017, that top percentage was earning 9.2 times as much as the average westerner.
Local Vasteras politicians are concerned about the trend in their area.
"The increase in prosperity is not evenly distributed, and that is not really good," Jesper Brandberg of Vasteras Municipal Council told SVT.
"All research shows that the more equal we are, the better it is for everyone," local politician Viktoria Bagi told SVT.
